DISTINCTLY TEEN
Distinctly Teen is a fun and exciting handbell event for ringers ages 13-18, taking place July 10-12, 2025, at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center and Hyatt Regency in Wichita, KS. Participants will spend 2½ days playing intermediate to advanced repertoire and developing skills in handbell technique and general musicianship under the leadership of conductor, Carlos Rivera-Aponte. Distinctly Teen will perform in a concert on July 12 at the Mary Jane Teall Theater during Pinnacle, Handbell Musicians of America’s event that places its primary emphasis on the performance elements of handbell artistry. The Distinctly Teen concert will also be livestreamed.
Registration is $145. Registrants must be a Student Member of HMA, or affiliated with an ensemble/school membership. If you have questions about Distinctly Teen or need assistance registering, please call 937-438-0085 and speak with Marie Clyatt-Larson.
Meet the Conductor
Regarded as one of Puerto Rico’s foremost handbell masters, Carlos Rivera Aponte has had a fruitful career of more than thirty years as director of various handbell programs in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Colombia. Carlos received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in education and music from the University of Puerto Rico. He later received his master’s degree in music education with an emphasis on choral music at Florida State University’s College of Music in Tallahassee, Florida. He is an active handbell clinician and has inspired many people to become involved in handbell ringing and musicianship. He describes himself as a handbell missionary, in his belief that “there are so many people who have not been able to be in contact with this wonderful instrument; once they do, they’ll fall in love with it”.
Carlos served two years as an at-large member of HMA National Board and now is the HMA Area 4 Chair-Elect. He currently works as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, music professor and choral conductor at the University of Puerto Rico-Carolina. He founded San Juan Handbell Ensemble in February 2024.
Repertoire & Schedule
Repertoire and detailed schedule will be coming soon.
Chaperone Requirements
All chaperones for teens attending Handbell Musicians of America’s Distinctly Teen event in Wichita, KS, from Thursday, July 10, through Saturday, July 12, 2025, will agree to the following:
- Every ringer is required to have a chaperone who will be present throughout the event and must provide the chaperone’s name in advance.
- Chaperones are responsible for their ringer(s) during any time at which they are not scheduled to be attending a Distinctly Teen event or group activity, such as a rehearsal, Distinctly Teen Only Class, or provided meal.
- Chaperones are responsible for escorting their ringer(s) to all non-group activities including concerts, classes, non-provided meals, and free time. Chaperones are required to stay with their teen(s) for the duration of these times.
- A detailed schedule of activities and when teens will need to be escorted will be provided after registration.
- Chaperones will not be permitted to attend rehearsals. We encourage chaperones to spend this time in one of our “Relaxation Stations” outside the rehearsal room, or to visit Handbell Commons.
- Each chaperone is expected to attend all concerts the teens are attending, as well as the concert in which they are performing on Saturday. Admission is free.
Cancellation Policy
Through June 20, 2025, the total fee, minus a $25 administrative charge, will be refunded. After June 20, 2025, no refund will be provided. Cancellations must be made in writing via email and sent to: [email protected].
Deb Heine Young Ringer Scholarship Fund
The Deb Heine Scholarship for Young Ringers provides support for individuals under the age of twenty to participate in Handbell Musicians of America’s national events. The scholarship includes full registration to the event, hotel nights (location and number of days depend on event), and up to $300 reimbursed for travel expenses. APPLY FOR HEINE SCHOLARSHIP