Marlin Handbell Ringers

Our group consists of 12 ringers and 108 bells! Formed in 1979 and based in Leavenworth, WA. And The Marlin Handbells are part of that dream.

Early History of Leavenworth and The Marlin Handbells
The story of the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Washington is the story of a dream that came true. In 1961 this tiny town, nestled against the eastern slopes of the Northwest’s rugged Cascade Mountains, was facing financial disaster. The sawmill had shut down; the railroad was gone. many shops and businesses on the town’s two-block main stree

t had closed their doors. Survival came down to a question of how to broaden the economic base of the area. A committee of concerned citizens made contact with a community development team from the University of Washington. From the study that followed a dream evolved: to transform Leavenworth into a bit of Bavaria; a place where visitors could come to experience the story-book environment of a mountain village. Many local folks risked everything to promote the dream. And when you visit Leavenworth today, you are witness to a dream come true. Early History of The Bells
As the Bavarian Village theme expanded, ideas became projects. After the town acquired a carillon, which rings each hour and serenades the valley, a logical extension of the project was the acquisition of a set of handells. Handbells had evolved in eighteenth century England as a means for the village carillon ringers to practice and not blast the town with the tower bells. Eventually handbell ringing became a legitimate musical form and today there are over 30,000 handbell choirs in the United States. Most sets of bells are owned by churches. The Marlin handbells belong to the group. Beginning with four octaves, the set grew to five and one half chromatic octaves plus duplicate bells of the three middle octaves. The original total of 91 bells, cast of bronze at a foundry in Pennsylvania, represented an investment of more than $13,000. Local candy-maker Archie Marlin dipped caramel apples and sold them at Leavenworth festivals to pay off the loan that bought the bells. It is in his honor that the group is named The Marlin Handbell Ringers. Through the years the group has acquired, through purchases and gifts, five additional base bells, the largest of which weighs 25 lbs. In 2002 the original five octave set of handbells was replaced with a brand new set. In 2006 the original duplicate middle three octaves were replaced with new bells. The Original Ringers
When the bells arrived in October, 1978, a call went out to recruit ringers. All who were interested were invited to ring. The choir evolved into a group of fourteen enthusiasts, all local folk, all amateur musicians. It included two painters, a potter, a writer, a professional photographer, a nurse, a computer programmer, a quilter, an airline pilot and two ski instructors. Through the years, ringers have come and gone, and the list of former ringers numbers well into the 50s. Two of the original ringers are still with the group which currently is composed of 12 ringers.

12/16/2025

One concert to go! 🔔 Come ring in the season with us Tuesday (tomorrow!) evening at 7pm at Celebration Lutheran Church in East Wenatchee! 🎄marlinhandbells.com

12/14/2025

Santa is here in George! We’ll see you at our concert at 3, or come early to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus!

12/02/2025

Two performances down! Next up Mountain Meadows and Wenatchee Senior Living! 🔔
We had fun last weekend performing at the Merry Christmas from Leavenworth concert and Sage Hills Church Tree Lighting. Find our upcoming performances at www.marlinhandbells.org

11/16/2025

08/31/2025

🔔 Join our handbell choir this holiday season!

We’re looking for enthusiastic ringers to join us for our upcoming holiday concert season! Whether you're a seasoned ringer or new to handbells, we’d love to have you.
✨ No handbell experience necessary — just a basic understanding of music is helpful.
📅 Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings in Leavenworth.
🎶 Come be part of the joyful sound!
Please share with anyone who might be interested. Email [email protected] for more info.

Photos from Marlin Handbell Ringers's post

05/14/2025

We've been busy spreading music all around town! We played for 500 amazing students at Vale Elementary yesterday, brought the fun to the Maifest crowd on Saturday, and now we’re wrapping up our spring season with one final performance!

Join us today at 11:30 AM at the Wenatchee Senior Center! Come enjoy some great music and stay for lunch!

05/03/2025

It’s already concert season! We’ve been working hard on our program and hope to see you at an upcoming performance! If you haven’t experienced the magic of the bells before, now is the time!
🔔
Public Performances:
May 10 - Leavenworth Maifest
May 14 - Wenatchee Senior Center

We’ll also be visiting Avamere Senior Living and Vale Elementary, and this weekend we’re performing at the Misawa Sister City Farewell Dinner!

P.S. Some of our pieces also use hand chimes!

12/10/2024

Concert tonight! Cornerstone Christian Church in Wenatchee at 7pm. Join us!

12/07/2024

Our mini ringers want you to come ring in the season with us at Snowy Owl Theater tomorrow at 2pm and visit them at the Leavenworth Festhalle’s gingerbread competition! www.marlinhandbells.com

Marlin Handbell Ringers announce holiday concert series - The Leavenworth Echo

12/06/2024

Check us out in the The Leavenworth Echo and join us at a concert!
Hope to see you this Sunday!
Sunday, Dec 8 @ 2 - Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, Leavenworth
Tuesday, Dec, 10 @ 7pm - Cornerstone Christian Church, Wenatchee
Saturday, Dec 14 @ 6pm - George Community Hall | City of George, Washington

https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/marlin-handbell-ringers-announce-holiday-concert-series,103455?

Marlin Handbell Ringers announce holiday concert series - The Leavenworth Echo LEAVENWORTH - The Leavenworth Marlin Handbell Ringers will perform three festive concerts across North Central Washington this holiday season. Directed by Joyce Phipps, the group combines …

11/29/2024

Come visit us this weekend at the Leavenworth Festhalle! Crafts, cocoa, gift wrapping, storytime, Santa and more!

11/07/2024

We’ve been working hard practicing for our upcoming holiday concerts! Save the dates and join us for one of our performances listed below. More details are coming soon!
🔔
Sunday, December 8 - Snowy Owl Theater, Leavenworth
Tuesday, December 10 - Cornerstone Christian Church, Wenatchee
Saturday, December 14 - George Community Hall

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The History of the Bells

Early History of Leavenworth and The Marlin Handbells
The story of the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Washington is the story of a dream that came true. And The Marlin Handbells are part of that dream.
In 1961 this tiny town, nestled against the eastern slopes of the Northwest’s rugged Cascade Mountains, was facing financial disaster. The sawmill had shut down; the railroad was gone. many shops and businesses on the town’s two-block main street had closed their doors. Survival came down to a question of how to broaden the economic base of the area.
A committee of concerned citizens made contact with a community development team from the University of Washington. From the study that followed a dream evolved: to transform Leavenworth into a bit of Bavaria; a place where visitors could come to experience the story-book environment of a mountain village.
Many local folks risked everything to promote the dream. And when you visit Leavenworth today, you are witness to a dream come true.

Early History of The Bells
As the Bavarian Village theme expanded, ideas became projects. After the town acquired a carillon, which rings each hour and serenades the valley, a logical extension of the project was the acquisition of a set of handells.
Handbells had evolved in eighteenth century England as a means for the village carillon ringers to practice and not blast the town with the tower bells. Eventually handbell ringing became a legitimate musical form and today there are over 30,000 handbell choirs in the United States. Most sets of bells are owned by churches. The Marlin handbells belong to the group.
Beginning with four octaves, the set grew to five and one half chromatic octaves plus duplicate bells of the three middle octaves. The original total of 91 bells, cast of bronze at a foundry in Pennsylvania, represented an investment of more than $13,000. Local candy-maker Archie Marlin dipped caramel apples and sold them at Leavenworth festivals to pay off the loan that bought the bells. It is in his honor that the group is named The Marlin Handbell Ringers.
Through the years the group has acquired, through purchases and gifts, five additional base bells, the largest of which weighs 25 lbs. In 2002 the original five octave set of handbells was replaced with a brand new set. In 2006 the original duplicate middle three octaves were replaced with new bells.

The Original Ringers
When the bells arrived in October, 1978, a call went out to recruit ringers. All who were interested were invited to ring. The choir evolved into a group of fourteen enthusiasts, all local folk, all amateur musicians. It included two painters, a potter, a writer, a professional photographer, a nurse, a computer programmer, a quilter, an airline pilot and two ski instructors.

Through the years, ringers have come and gone, and the list of former ringers numbers well into the 50s. Two of the original ringers are still with the group which currently is composed of 12 ringers.

www.marlinhandbells.com

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Website

http://www.marlinhandbellringers.com/

Address

403 W Montmorency/ PO Box 5064
George, WA
98824

Marlin Handbell Ringers

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