Classic Bronze is a large handbell festival that happens every two years. The event consists mainly of day-long, intense rehearsals with world-class conductors, culminating in a concert open to the public.
How much does it cost?
Registration fees are $380 US Dollars or $460 Canadian Dollars. You may pay in whichever currency you prefer.
Where do I send the deposit/fees?
Canadian: classicbronzecalgary@gmail.com for EFT/ Interac/ PayPal US and others: bizacct@mac.com for PayPal
If mailing a check, make it out to classic bronze handbell ringing association and send to this address: Classic Bronze 603-1208 14 Ave SW Calgary AB T3C 0V9 Canada
When is it?
It will be held Aug 5-8, 2025 - and it’s all day long on each of those days, from morning til evening
what time should i arrive?
we suggest arriving the day before the event begins and leaving the next morning after the concert. Schedules are pretty packed for the four days of the event, from morning till evening.
are meals provided?
Breakfast and lunch will be provided two of the four days by the host venue. The other two days, you’ll have an opportunity to discover places on your own. If you have dietary restrictions, please note that on the registration form. the venue will make sure your needs are met.
I see three ‘paths’ - what’s this about?
Classic Bronze has three distinct ‘paths’ that all lead to the concert at the end of the event. Each path has its own music, its own clinician, and is designed for ringers of different skill levels and experience.
ACCENT is for ringers who are relatively new to handbells (we suggest that you have at least one year experience) or for people who want to ring at a major festival without the stress of difficult music. ACCENT repertoire ranges from Level 1 to Level 2 in difficulty.
COPPER is for intermediate level ringers with a bit more experience who want to challenge themselves. Repertoire on the Copper path ranges from Level 2 to Level 4.
BRONZE is for advanced ringers who want to push their skills with challenging music. Bronze repertoire can be at any difficulty level from 2 to 6.
Where is it held?
Classic Bronze 2025 will be at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The address is: 11500 35 street se Calgary, AB T2Z 3W4
What happens at this event?
Ringers from all over North America and beyond converge for four days of rehearsals under the baton of world-class conductors. You’ll have rehearsals all day (with breaks of course!) as well as meal times, social gatherings, and opportunities to meet fellow bell ringers and make new friends. On the last day, we’ll present a concert to the public and showcase what we’ve been working on. It’s the handbell concert of the year in canada!
I want to invite my friends to the concert - what do I tell them?
The concert will be at 7pm on friday, august 8, 2025 at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary Ticket prices are by donation - $30 suggested, but not mandatory The concert will last approximately two hours
I’ve been to classic bronze before. how will it be different this time?
two words: air conditioning! 😀
the host location offers plenty to do between rehearsals without ever leaving the venue! multiple restaurants, a casino, a pool and waterslide, bars and lounges, and more.
the concert venue is awesome - invite everyone to the concert, there’s plenty of room for a big audience
plus, there’s now a third path available for ringers who aren’t quite ready for copper, or who just want to come and ring without getting stressed out by the harder repertoire. you can bring all your bell-ringing friends, there’s a place for everyone!
How far is the hotel from the rehearsal space?
just down the hall ! your room, the rehearsal space, and the concert venue are all on-site.
are we rehearsing all day long?
pretty much! There will be breaks throughout the day, plus meal times and snack breaks. The days will fly by, ringing awesome music and making new friends.
What music will i need?
it depends on the path you choose. a full list can be seen here.
I’m not canadian. what do i need?
If you are a us citizen, all you need is a passport. If you’re coming from another country, check this site for more information
what’s the nearest airport?
calgary airport ( yyc ) is about a 25 minute drive from the venue.
will i need to convert my money?
most places in canada only use canadian dollars, so if you’re paying in cash, you’ll need canadian money. there are currency exchange locations at all major airports. If paying by card, nearly every place accepts Mastercard and visa. Very few accept Amex or discover.
what are the exchange rates?
exchange rates fluctuate daily, so this is only a ballpark estimation: if something costs $ 100 Canadian dollars, it will cost approximately $ 74 US Dollars £ 56 gb pounds € 67 euros In other words, everything in canada will feel like it’s on sale! WOO HOO!!!!
what will the weather be like?
Generally speaking, august days in calgary are really nice and a fantastic break from the heat of summer in most other places. Daytime highs range around 26 C ( 78 F ) and evening lows are around 14 C ( 58 F ). it probably won’t snow.
can I bring my whole family?
of course! the ringing positions are for ringers teen and up, but you can bring the kiddos, too! There is a kid-friendly water play area at the hotel and if you have a chaperone (non-ringing spouse, etc) there are lots of things to do around calgary while you’re ringing. Be aware that minors are not allowed in the casino.
Does the venue have free wifi?
YES!!
What about parking?
the venue has free parking and even has EV hookups!
will i need to speak french?
no. all rehearsals will be conducted in english. However, canada’s official languages are english and french, so you’re likely to find bilingual labels on products and signage.
i’ve never been to canada
we can’t wait to welcome you to our country! we’re sure that you’ll fall in love with the people, the hospitality, the mountains, and the lack of pharmaceutical ads on canadian tv.
Will I have to say, “Eh?”
that’s not as common in western canada as you might think. you’re welcome to try it out, though!
will i see a moose? I wanna see a moose.
we can’t guarantee that you’ll see moose or bears or beavers or other canadian wildlife (but you might!). it’s a city, after all. however, you’re probably going to see canada geese if you’re out and about. we highly recommend staying away from them. we don’t call them ‘cobra chickens’ for nothing!
what about culture shock?
no worries. canada is hugely multicultural, so you’re probably going to feel right at home no matter where you’re from.
i heard that milk is sold in bags…
not in alberta. that’s mostly in eastern canada.
do canadians really say “aboot”?
not really, except for that one youtuber from BC. it’s closer to “aboat”.
what about “sorry”? Do you say that a lot?
ok, that stereotype is actually true. Sorry.
i’m going to come a few days early. Can I also visit vancouver or Toronto?
canada is huge. Seriously. Vancouver is about a 12 hour drive from calgary. Toronto is around 30 hours away, and montreal is even farther. However, the canadian rockies are just down the road and even more exciting.
what else is there to do in calgary?
calgary is a vibrant city with lots of great restaurants, nightlife, museums, and outdoor activities. It’s home to hundreds of kilometres of walk/bike paths, two major rivers, and lots of parks. the host venue also has lots of things to do as well.
