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Madison Area Concert Handbells is an auditioned community handbell choir that was formed in 1997. It is the only handbell choir in Wisconsin that plays music using as many as six octaves of bells and seven octaves of handchimes. A non-profit corporation, MACH's mission is to serve the community through high-quality performances, to further the art of handbell ringing, and to encourage public knowledge and appreciation of handbell music. The pieces played at MACH's concerts are challenging for skilled ringers and enjoyable for audiences. A wide range of handbell techniques gives pizzazz to the program, and brief commentaries by the director help to educate audiences about the bells and music. Accompanying instruments lend further variety, and solo ringers and ensembles often perform. Occasionally, the audience is invited to sing and/or play chimes along with the bells.