Mission: To advance handbell ringing skills within the Seventh-day Adventist education system and to promote handbell musicianship as a ministry.
History:
RingFest started from a desire to increase knowledge of ringing techniques and an aspiration to push the boundaries and capabilities of Adventist youth handbell ringers.
The first RingFest was held the last weekend of October in 2000. The inaugural groups hailed from Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, MI; Great Lakes Adventist Academy in Cedar Lake, MI; Toledo Junior Academy in Toledo, Ohio; and Wisconsin Academy in Columbus, WI. The bell choirs spent two days in rehearsals learning from Vic Kostenko, then Executive Director of American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (now Handbell Musicians of America) and Janet Van Valey. Currently, the event hosts 18 handbell ensembles from Adventist schools mostly across the eastern US, representing Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, & Washington.
Over the years, RingFest has welcomed 23 different Guest Clinicians to the podium, all Nationally & Internationally recognised Handbell Clinicians and Composers. RingFest has commissioned eight compositions: No Dark Valley (Glasgow), Huron Carol (H. D. Wagner), Come Emmanuel (Glasgow), Fantasy on "Repton" (H. D. Wagner), Near to the Heart of God (Glasgow), CRIDHE (Waugh), Masters in This Hall (Glasgow), & the 25th Anniversary commission (H. D. Wagner).
The event brings junior high and high school aged students together for two days of intensive mass rehearsals, coaching sessions, workshops, and fellowship before performing a celebration concert on Friday evening. Today, RingFest is one of the largest youth-focused handbell festivals held annually in the United States.
Past Clinicans:
2000: Vic Kostenko and Janet Van Valey
2001: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner
2002: Vic Kostenko and Susan Berry
2003: Alice Ralston and David Finkam
2004: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner
2005: Susan Berry and Jason Wells
2006: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner
2007: Chuck Kobb and Sherri Stoffer
2008: Susan Berry and Michael Joy
2009: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner
2010: Susan Berry and Michael Glasgow
2011: David Harris and Ron Bellamy
2012: Michael Glasgow and Timothy Waugh
2013: Susan Berry and David Weck
2014: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner
2015: Timothy Waugh and Kevin McChesney
2016: Michael Glasgow and Michéle Sharik
2017: David Harris and Nicolas Hanson
2018: Hart Morris and Bill Alexander
2019: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner
2020: (RingFest not held due to COVID-19)
2021: Michael Glasgow and Barbara Meinke
2022: Kevin McChesney and Martha Matthews
2023: Michael Glasgow and Timothy Waugh
2024: David Harris and Sandra Eithun
2025: Chuck Kobb and H. Dean Wagner