Madison Area Concert Handbells

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Ashley Crutcher

Members of a handbell choir.

Madison Area Concert Handbells

“Dreams & Visions,” the spring program by Madison Area Concert Handbells, pairs the one-of-a-kind shimmer of handbells with imaginative musical moments like a collaboration with Madison organist Jaret Schroeder. MACH isn’t just ringing your average bells, either: four different sets are featured, including antique English bells from the late 1800s and a water bell (yes, it's struck while submerged). Concerts at 3 p.m. (sensory-friendly and designed for young audiences) and 7 p.m. on May 17 and 3 p.m. on May 18.

media release: Madison Area Concert Handbells (MACH) presents a musical journey with Dreams & Visions on May 17 & 18.

●       Saturday May 17 – Kid-Friendly Relaxed Concert – Covenant Presbyterian Church – 3:00-4:00 pm

●       Saturday May 17 – Covenant Presbyterian Church – 7:00-9:00 pm – reception following

●       Sunday May 18 – First Congregational Church – 3:00-5:00 pm – reception following

The Saturday afternoon concert is FREE. Tickets for regular concerts are $18 in advance and $20 at the door (special pricing for seniors & children). Tickets can be purchased at Madison Area Concert Handbells

Join Madison Area Concert Handbells (MACH) on a musical journey with Dreams & Visions on May 17 & 18. Audiences will enjoy a concert featuring a varied program of handbell music evoking humanity’s loftiest dreams and celebrating the common threads that unite us all. From the Broadway stage to the NASA space shuttle and more, this is a concert you won’t want to miss!

Unique and varied! This concert highlights unique ways to “ring” handbells, including a “water bell” where a bell is immersed in water and struck. FOUR distinct sets of handbells are featured: Petit & Fitzen (Dutch) and Maas-Rowe handbells on loan join MACH’s 6+ octaves of Malmark handbells and handchimes. MACH’s 3 octaves of antique English handbells manufactured around 1875-1900 round out the instrumentation.

Organ Feature! Longtime MACH friend Jaret Schroeder joins MACH on pieces for Organ and Handbell. Jaret serves as the principal organist at St. Paul's Catholic Student Center. Supporting a myriad of musical styles, you can catch him around Madison including Bach Around the Clock and playing at the Overture Center. MACH Director Nick says: “We’ve had this collaboration idea for years and are excited to bring it to you now!”

NEW OFFERING! MACH is delighted to add a FREE, one-hour, kid-friendly relaxed concert Saturday afternoon. This concert welcomes children, first-time concert attendees, and those with sensory needs and their families in a judgment-free environment. Energy and wiggles welcome - our young audience is invited to move and dance to the music including some recognizable Broadway songs. This short concert is an excellent Saturday activity for the family! 

MACH is now in its 28th year serving the Madison Community. MACH’s director, Nicholas Bonaccio, is a classically trained percussionist and a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. His music accolades include performing with the band Evanescence, symphonies across the Midwest, and Broadway Across America’s touring productions at the Overture Center.

MACH has performed at Wisconsin’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, the opening of Madison’s Overture Center, the Elvehjem Museum of Art, Milwaukee’s Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, the Stoughton Opera House, the Middleton Performing Arts Center, Sinsinawa Mound, and with the Madison Symphony Orchestra.