Salento Handbell Experience
A curated music and cultural tour for handbell ringers in Puglia, Italy
OUR JOURNEY BEGINS among the sun-bleached white stone walls of Lecce, in the heart of southern Puglia, where we settle into our home for the week. Over the next seven days, we will make music together and explore the culture, history, and especially the cuisine of the Salento region. You will truly learn to appreciate the rhythm of Italy through music (and food)!
Resonate Tours has developed this tailored experience for individual musicians to share music together while exploring Italy and eating amazing cuisine. We explore the streets, countryside, and coastline of this beautiful country while experiencing its culture and enjoying music with new friends. You can expect more than a standard group tour— uncommon adventures await. Make music every day, meet local friends, go off the beaten path, and immerse yourself in the culture.
The Salento Handbell Experience connects you with a local audience and introduces you to the rich Salentino history, culture, and food. The tour intersperses music with a curated culinary experience and local activities in Lecce and the surrounding region. Every day you will ring with your friends, starting with several days of rehearsal and then ending the week with small performances in unique venues across the region. In the meantime, you'll explore Lecce, the "Florence of the South," and venture out to other towns and cities in the Salento region. Of course, you will also eat some of the best food of your life, enjoying local specialties with plenty of wine!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
If you enjoy ringing handbells, you'll love ringing in ITALY!
Introduce handbells to a new and curious audience.
Eat some of the best food of your life.
Visit various parts of the region to get to know Salento culture.
No repacking, the whole trip is based in one hotel.
Did we mention the wine?
TIPS:
Companions are welcome! Many of our guests bring a non-musical companion. They are welcome to participate in the musical activities as an observer (or photographer!), or enjoy more free time exploring the city.
The closest airport is Salento Airport in Brindisi, which is about 45 minutes from Lecce. You can also fly into Bari, which is a larger airport, but is about 2 hours away from Lecce. Finally, the high-speed train goes directly to Lecce, and is about a 6 hour trip from Rome.
Deposit of $395 at registration reserves your spot. Additional installments due Nov 1st, Jan 1st, and March 1st.
Meet Your Hosts
William and Alex
William Kyle and Alex Hay founded Resonate Tours based on their shared passion for music and travel.
William connected with music singing in choir and "graduated" to handbells becoming an integral part of the local, national and international handbell community. He founded Handbell Ventures, was Music Director of Bay Bells, rang with Velocity Handbell Ensemble, and has published original compositions and arrangements for handbells and chorus. He served as Assistant Music Director at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos for 13 years.
Alex has played violin with community orchestras across the United States, including the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia, the San Francisco Civic Symphony and the Lexington Community Orchestra. As a handbell musician, he rang with pop-cover handbell band Bell Appeal, known for creativity in music programming and audience engagement.
A life of living in various cities in multiple countries has led William and Alex to reside in Lisbon, Portugal, a 21st-century intersection of world cultures.
Resonate Tours
William
William Bryan Kyle, a ringer and director for over 30 years, has served as Music Director of the San Francisco community ensembles Bay Bells and Bell Appeal, and as Assistant Music Director at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos. He has contributed to the larger handbell community as Chair and Events Director of Handbell Musicians of America Area 12 and as the first Executive Director of Handbell Ventures. He is a founding member of Velocity Handbell Ensemble.
William is currently Dean of the Zephyr Point Music Conference held at Lake Tahoe every summer and the Music Director of Campanae Mundi, an impromptu handbell ensemble that convenes in Italy each year.
When not making music, William is the Co-Founder and CEO of hydra Brands, which specializes in aromatherapy bath and shower products, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.
William Kyle
LECCE
from
$2,995
9
days
Available Dates:
June 1 - 9, 2024
PRICE INCLUDES:
8 nights 4-star accommodation in the historic city of Lecce (see room options)
Tour experiences and activities in Lecce and across the Salento region
Amazing European breakfast at the hotel each morning
Lunch or Dinner each day
Transport to all included activities and sightseeing
Museum and activity entrance fees
HOTEL ROOM OPTIONS:
The Santa Chiara Hotel in Lecce is a small boutique hotel and includes a mix of Superior rooms and Classic rooms. Classic rooms have only interior views or skylights, while Superior rooms have external windows with a view to the piazza out front. There is a limited number of each type of room.
Classic rooms are at the base price of $2,995
SOLD OUT Superior rooms are available at a price of $3,195
AVAILABLE EXTRAS:
Airport/hotel pick up and drop off can be arranged for an additional charge
Additional meals & drinks
Price is per person, based on two people sharing a room (double occupancy). Single supplement may be available.