The Detroit Handbell Ensemble will open its 2019-20 season by co-hosting the Eaton Rapids Handbell Festival November 2 at the First United Methodist Church of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Under the direction of Brenda Austin and Kyle Webber, participants from nine church ensembles and DHE will perform a closing festival concert open to the public at 2:30pm. Austin, DHE artistic director and the director of music at the Eaton Rapids church, founded the annual festival with Webber in 2012. Webber is the director of music ministries at Nardin Park United Methodist Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and a national board member of the Handbell Musicians of America.

In late June 2019, the Detroit Handbell Ensemble hit the road for Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to perform a feature concert at the Area 2 Festival Conference and Young Ringer Festival. We were very excited to be invited to this event and to perform for friends and colleagues in the handbell community.