Welcome!

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The 2017-2018 season is slowly coming to an end! We had a successful tour to Door County, we raised over $7,000 during our benefit concert for the historic Trinity Lutheran Church in Milwaukee following their devastating fire in May and we are going to finish up the season by playing the closing concert at the National Handbell Seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan! If you are unable to see us live in Michigan, the concert will be live-streamed! Visit the Handbell Musicians of America's website to learn more! 

​Even though the season is coming to an end, our 2018-2019 schedule is starting to fill up! We will be holding auditions on Monday, August 27 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Glendale starting at 6:15 pm. If you are interested in auditioning, please email us. Otherwise, we hope you can make it to one (or more!) of our concerts! Please visit our "Events" page to find a concert near you!
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We recently released a new CD entitled An MHE Christmas Celebration! It would make a great gift for any of your music-loving friends and family! Visit cdbaby to order yours today!
We also encourage you to take some time to browse our website and learn what makes the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble a unique musical group that plays a unique musical instrument. Visit the "About" page to learn of our history, ringers and directors! Take a glimpse of MHE behind-the-scenes by visiting our "Galleries" page! You may hear the magnificent sounds that handbells create by listening to audio recordings, such as What is this Lovely Fragrance arranged by Fred Gramann or watch a video recording of MHE in action as we perform Tin-Tin-A-Rumba by Andrew Duncan.  

Last but not least … HIRE US! 
Not only can you hire us to perform for a special event or party of yours, we also provide traveling workshops to achieve our mission of "… educating, inspiring and informing others on the art form."  Contact us for more information!
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Events at a Glance


Summer Concert

Friday, July 20
7:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
St. Joseph, MI

National Seminar
Saturday, July 21
6:00 pm
Grand Rapids, MI


MHE Auditions
Monday, August 27
6:15 pm
St. John's Lutheran Church
Glendale, WI



Testimonials ... 

"The Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble has become a highly anticipated and much loved part of our Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops tradition. MHE’s ringers are a talented, professional group that bring tremendous joy and energy to every performance."

~ By Mark Niehaus, MSO president and executive director, following our performance with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at their Holiday Pops concert. (2017)


"Our Concert Series has brought a variety of artists to Rockford for eleven years.  Without a doubt, Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble's performance was one of the best.  MHE was great to work with and the variety of music they offered was a big hit with our audience. We received many, many positive comments.  On a scale of 1 to 10, MHE is an 11!"
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~ By Martha Rolf, Concert Series Committee of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford, IL following our concert. (2017)


"The Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, led by director John Behnke for one number, performed several times, including an unconducted, memorized number from the lip of the stage. They played with spirit, precision, and the almost balletic grace the bells require."

~ By Elaine Schmidt, Special to the Journal Sentinel, following our performance with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at their Holiday Pops concert. (2015)
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Dr. John Behnke, director