Orlando was the proud host of the bi-annual International Handbell Symposium.  The idea for international symposia was born in August 1982 when AGEHR president David R. Davidson, attended the Japanese National Handbell Workshop as a guest clinician.  During the workshop, ringers expressed interest in having the opporunity to meet other ringers formm around the world through an international workshop setting.  Kazuo Ohta and Sun-joo Shin, members of the Handbell Ringers of Japan, along with David Davidson, agreed and created the International Handbell Symposium for ringers to communicate and share their cultures through the "art of handbell ringing" while extending the spirit of world peace through music.