Mid-Carolinas Handbell Festival

Michael Helman is currently Director of Music/Organist at Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church in Brevard, North Carolina where he directs the Adult choir, Westminster Ringers, and coordinates the church’s concert series. His is also adjunct faculty at Brevard College. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Michael was Director of Music/Organist for sixteen years at Faith Presbyterian in Cape Coral, Florida and for fifteen years at St. Paul’s United Methodist in Wilmington, Delaware. Michael did his undergraduate work in organ performance at Lebanon Valley College and did graduate work in Music History and Literature at West Chester University.  He is an active composer of handbell, organ, and choral music with over 200 pieces in print.  Michael has also won nine composition contests including the 1997, 1998, and 2000 AGEHR National Composition Contests.   Mr. Helman is in demand as a handbell festival director and clinician all over the country. He served for a number of years on the Board of Area 3 of the Handbell Musicians of America and is currently on the Board of the Western Carolina Chapter of the AGO. Michael has begun two community handbell ensembles: the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble in 2000 and in 2009 the Southwest Florida Handbell Ensemble. He is also the past Handbell Editor for the Lorenz Corporation.