Press Kit
Below you will find png files to help you promote our Houston Bronze concert. Included is a brief history of HBE, pictures, and the HBE logo, and concert posters. Should you need a different size or format or if you have other questions, please let contact us at info@houtonbronze.org
Equipment set up: We play on 57 feet (9 six foot tables plus one 3 foot table) in a winged U setup. This is our usual set up. Before booking your concert, we will talk with you about the space you have available. This often requires that we make an on site visit. We have played in various formations and will work with you to make it possible for us to perform in your space
About Houston Bronze Ensemble
The Houston Bronze Ensemble is a professional, auditioned, handbell ensemble made up of musicians from the greater Houston area. Known as Houston’s premier handbell choir, the ensemble performs regular concerts in the winter and spring as well as at community, regional, and national events, weddings, and private parties. The group plays a wide variety of musical genres, always with the goal of excellence. Founded in 1988, Houston Bronze Ensemble was started as an avenue for Houston area handbell directors to have a place to ring. A lunchtime meeting with only a napkin to write the names of those who might be interested is what started it all. The rest, as they say, is history. Past directors include founder Hart Morris, Margaret Tucker, David VanderMerr, Dolan Bayless, Ben Harris, Ruth Seiwell, James Roberts, Bill Nave, and Sondra Tucker. David York is our current artistic director. While we have a long history, Houston Bronze also recognizes the importance of building the future of handbell ringing. We offer a variety of educational opportunities designed to meet the unique needs of churches and schools who wish to build or improve their handbell programs. Workshops designed to meet specific needs, mini concerts, and petting zoos are a sample of what we provide to the Houston area handbell community.
Coming soon-December 2026 concert information
Logo
About our director
With a background primarily in choral conducting, David came to handbells mid-career by way of composing an original work for Bells of the Cascades and his semi-professional vocal choir, David York Ensemble. “The Bells” - text by Edgar Allan Poe - was a success and the handbell bug bit hard. A few years later, he was hired to conduct Bells of the Cascades, a post he held for three seasons. In addition to his award-winning chamber choir, numerous community choirs of various sizes, skill-level, and repertoire, and church work for his entire adult life, Dr. York directed Portland Boychoir for fifteen years, the last ten years of which included a handbell program he built from scratch. David relocated to Houston in 2019. He’s now the Director of Music at First Congregational Church of Houston, the Artistic Director for Pride Chorus Houston. David brings big energy and excitement to Houston Bronze Ensemble, and a self-declared commitment for having FUN through all phases of the music-making process.