With a flick of the wrist, a handbell choir can enchant even the most adamant grinch. Especially popular around the holidays, handbell ensembles ring between 25 and 97 bells at once, allowing melody and harmony to resonate throughout the hall. Musicians wear gloves and stand in a line behind a padded case of bells, often ringing multiple bells in one hand. It’s both an auditory and visual experience, sure to get you in the mood for the winter season.
Western North Carolina is lucky to have multiple handbell choirs, including the Blue Ridge Ringers, the Brasstown Ringers and the Jubillee Handbell Choir. All three have performances coming up:
On Sunday, Dec. 11 from 4-5 p.m., the Brasstown Ringers will present Christmas Bells at the First Christian Church, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler. Info: www.mapaa.org or 837-8822.
Also on Sunday, starting at 5 p.m., the Jubilee Handbell Choir will perform with the Chancel Choir, First Brass, Canto and others. Holy Light: A Candlelight Service of Carols will be presented at First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, on the corner of Church Street and 6th Avenue. Info: www.fumchvlnc.org or 693-4275.
If you can’t make either Sunday performance, the Blue Ridge Ringers will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Transylvania County Public Library, 212 South Gaston St. in Brevard. Info: 692-4910.
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