Please consult the repertoire list as of November 1^st to decide if you are capable and willing to meet the challenges involved, keeping in mind that the music must be ready to ring at performance tempo at the first rehearsal. Only you can discern if you have the desire, available time and necessary skills to prepare for this event. This commitment must be taken seriously. Please be aware that this is not an event where you come to learn notes. This is an event where ringers come prepared so that we can work together as an ensemble of more than 100 ringers to enhance the musicality of the collective works.

Registration

Advance Registration

27 of the 108 ringing positions are assigned prior to the Alumni Lottery Application process. These include:

A) Deep Bass Ringers

( aluminum G1-B2 ).

Those with considerable experience ringing aluminum bass handbells may apply for one of the four available positions, working under the guidance of Paul Kingsbury.

The application deadline was November 15, 2025. Any alumni who apply and are not selected for these positions may submit an Alumni Lottery Application by December 30th.
Deep Bass Application

B) Position Coordinators

Coordinators for the ringing positions P1 [C4-D4] to P11 [B6/7-C7/8] are selected to help with preparation during the months leading up to the event. They communicate with the musicians ringing the same position to help solve problem measures and suggest when and where to share bells when it is extremely hard to ring everything or when it is helpful to share bells with a neighbor.

To apply for Position Coordinator, one must be:

• an alumnus of the BVWOH, having experienced the various facets of the event.
• willing to purchase the music soon after being selected and study it to find the problem measures, and share via performance notes for that position’s ringers.
• organized and willing to respond with regularity when ringers ask questions.

Guidelines for Position Coordinators (PCs):

• PCs are expected to have their performance notes ready by March 1^st .
• PCs must communicate with other PCs to discuss side-to-side bell sharing.
• All notes are to be stored in a central location using Google Docs accessible in one place for all ringers.
• PCs are expected to respond to questions from ringers within three days of receiving the enquiry. If that is impossible due to personal circumstances, they will quickly respond with an approximate date to communicate an answer.
• Last minute bell sharing assignment changes are to be avoided. Any changes deemed necessary should be communicated to position ringers no later than July 1^st.

The application deadline was November 15, 2025. Any alumni who apply and are not selected must still submit an Alumni Lottery Application by December 30^th.

Position Coordinator Application

C) First Time Participants

An important aspect of the BVWOH is welcoming new participants. Ten bronze-level ringers who are new to this event will be accepted from the applications received. Potential applicants need to review the repertoire once it is announced to ensure they are fully aware of what will be required. They need to have the advanced skills and adequate preparation time to successfully participate in the BVWOH experience.
The application deadline was December 1, 2025.
New Participant Application

D) Young Adult Scholarships

Encouraging young adult ringers to attend the BVWOH is essential to our future. Thanks to the Carl Wiltse Scholarship Fund, financial assistance in the amount of $750 is offered to one or two bronze-level ringers between the ages of 18 and 30.
The application deadline was December 15, 2025.

Young Adult Scholarship Application

Registration for Alumni

The selection of ringers for the remaining positions are determined by means of a lottery.

1. Interested alumni need to submit the Alumni Lottery Application by December 31^st. An automatic reply message will be sent to confirm receipt.
2. The submitted forms will be assigned consecutive numbers in the order they are received.
   (Note the assigned number has nothing to do with priority.)
3. During the first week of January, a lottery process will assign a random number to each application.
4. Positions will be filled using the generated random number. Any ringer’s whose random number falls within the available positions will be emailed a link to register on-line the following week.
5. When all the available positions have been filled, the order of the remaining random numbers will constitute the wait list. These people will be notified of their status as wait-listed.

Alumni Lottery Application

Fees

The Registration Fee is $315.

The Concert

The public concert will be presented on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM in the John M. Hall Auditorium, 1715 Encampment Ave., Petoskey, Michigan. It is free to the public with a free-will offering taken to benefit the Bay View Association Summer Music Academy Scholarship Fund. A CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, and/or USB drive of the concert may be ordered by filling out the order form available during the week or by contacting Pierpont Productions (231-347-4488 / pierpontproductions.com). Pre-ordered recordings are normally sent in October.

Concert Attire

The concert attire is BLACK. Please do not wear dark gray, navy or faded black.

• Men: BLACK long sleeved dress shirt with BLACK dress pants, BLACK belt, BLACK socks, and BLACK shoes.
• Women: BLACK top with three-quarter length sleeve or longer, BLACK pants (no jeans) or skirt, and BLACK shoes. Please no glittery or dangly necklaces or earrings.
• All Ringers: BLACK gloves.
• It is imperative to avoid wearing perfume or other scents as some ringers are prone to allergic reactions.

Music

You are responsible for purchasing and using published music scores. Photocopies are not permitted on the rehearsal floor.

If you wish to use a tablet computer for your music in place of standard paper copies, you must retain a copy of the purchase receipt for digital downloads or keep the original purchased music on hand in lieu of a purchase receipt.

Housing & Transportation

You are responsible for securing your own housing. Petoskey’s tourist season is in full swing during this time of year so PLEASE make your reservations early.

Ruth Crist Hall

Ruth Crist Hall provides very basic, inexpensive on-site dormitory housing. Located on Terrace Avenue, Block 45, it’s a short walk to rehearsals. The cost is $180 for the four-night stay which is less than one night in many of the local inns and hotels. No meals are provided. There is a fridge and microwave available but every resident is responsible for purchasing and preparing their own meals. If desired, invitations to share a meal or two with some of the participants staying in cottages can be arranged

While northern Michigan typically enjoys an average daytime temperature in the mid 70’s to low 80’s, it does sometimes get hot and Crist Hall is not air-conditioned. Registrants staying in Crist Hall are asked to bring twin bed sheets, pillowcases, and towels. Please be aware that some beds are bunked – single beds are not guaranteed, even if specifically requested. Check-in time is Monday afternoon at 4:30pm. If you plan on arriving on Sunday, you will need to secure other housing for Sunday evening.

Cottage Rentals in Bay View Association

It is common for a group of ringers to share the cost of renting a cottage. Contact Mary McCarthy at McCune Real Estate in Petoskey (231) 347-3202 to view available cottages in Bay View. Don’t hesitate to make it known if you would like to explore this option with other participants.

Inns and Hotels

There are many fine hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts located in the area. Please check with a travel agency, the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce (www.Petoskey.com) or your favorite travel website.

Transportation

You can get to Bay View by car, plane, or boat. Take a look at the map and start making your plans, remembering all registrants must secure their own travel arrangements.

Refund Policy

We know that life happens and plans change! Please take careful note of the refund policy. Refunds will be paid out according to the following schedule:

Up until April 1^st : all monies paid will be refunded minus a $50 handling fee.

April 2^nd through June 15^th : 50% of all monies will be refunded.

Cancellations made after June 15^th for any reason (including medical issues, family emergencies, etc.) are not refundable.

Bay View Week of Handbells

2026 Highlights

You will be a part of one of the most amazing handbell events in North America. Your attendance will benefit you & your skills, and helps the Bay View Association Summer Music Academy Scholarship Fund through the free-will offering taken at the concert.

You can shop in nearby Petoskey or Harbor Springs, drive about 30 minutes to catch a ferry to Mackinac Island, take a swim in Little Traverse Bay, bike along the Little Traverse Wheelway ( paved paths for cyclists, skaters, walkers, and joggers ) or visit anything else that piques your interest.

On Friday morning all are invited to enjoy a continental breakfast which is followed by an opportunity to view the concert video in draft-form recorded by Pierpont Productions. It’s a lovely opportunity to celebrate the week, watch the concert as the audience sees it and say farewell to friends.

Allured and Wiltse Funds

In conjunction with Handbell Musicians of America, the BVWPOH supports handbell composers and young handbell musicians through two funds. Their history, past recipients, and options to donate to them can be found on the Allured & Wiltse Funds Page.

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For further information please contact:

• Carmen Massaro, operations manager, at weekofhandbells@gmail.com
• Fred Gramann, director, at gramannfred@gmail.com

For information about the Bay View Association please consult their website: www.bayviewassociation.org