If you’d like to join us as a member of Kalamazoo Ringers, here’s all the information you’ll need!
Auditions usually take place sometime after our spring concert(s), in May or June. We may also hold mid-season auditions, based on current needs. We generally audition for new members only when we have a space available.
Applying to join Kalamazoo Ringers: Basic Requirements
There are a couple of basic requirements that we ask of all applicants. You need to be able to read music proficiently. You should also have at least five years of handbell experience, although we do sometimes make exceptions for people with equivalent musical training or education. If you have questions about these requirements, please contact our director, Martha Matthews, and she’ll be happy to talk through it with you.
We strongly recommend that you contact us to arrange to visit a rehearsal. Meet the director and the ringers, observe how our rehearsals work, and we’ll do our best to find you a spot to ring in! You can look at the music, ask questions, and really get a sense of who we are, and what we do. It’s a great way to find out if the group feels like the right place for you, before you apply to join.
If you’re ready to apply, here’s what to do:
First, read and understand this page: What to Expect as a Member of Kalamazoo Ringers
Next, complete and return the KR Membership Application:
- Get the KR Membership Application Form. Fill it out and save it on your computer or phone. You can do this by completing the form in your browser, then downloading it; or you can download it first and then edit it on your device.
- Send the application form to us! We recommend sending it by email, but you’re also welcome to send us a printed version by mail if you’d prefer.
Here’s what will happen after that:
After receiving your application, we’ll contact you!
Assuming that your application indicates you’d be a good fit, we’ll schedule a ringing audition with you, our director, and our current members. This will include some reading exercises to make sure that you’ll be able to handle the music we play (rhythm, sight-reading, ringing technique, ringing form, etc.). The audition usually takes place on a Tuesday evening (the normal rehearsal night) in Kalamazoo, and our group members will be ringing with you. You’ll also meet with the KR director and board members, to discuss your plans/hopes to be part of our team.
Once the audition is complete, KR members will get together with the board and director, and there will be a brief discussion about how well they think you’ll fit into our family. We let you know as quickly as possible if your application has been successful.
A newly accepted ringer is on probation for one year. Following that year, pending approval, the ringer becomes a permanent member of Kalamazoo Ringers.
