New England Handbell Ringers

The New England Handbell Ringers will perform a concert, Sunday, December 14, at 3:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East Street, Pittsfield. The program for the Light of Christmas Concert celebrates the hope, wonder and
joy of the holidays.
New England Ringers, celebrating their 25th anniversary, is a community handbell ensemble of highly energetic musicians playing advanced levels of handbell literature. Offering exciting performances, NER amazes listeners and receives enthusiastic reviews from audience members of all ages. NER performances are a blend of lively and diverse musical moods and styles with repertoire spanning classical transcriptions, familiar favorites and original
compositions. The outstanding music is matched by touches of entertaining humor and the artful visual presentation of the ensemble playing this unique instrument. One of the major goals of the ensemble is to introduce audiences to the incredible music that can be made on this impressive instrument. The New England Ringers strive to achieve a level of musicianship that brings the art of handbell ringing greater recognition and acceptance in the world of musical performance.
New England Ringers is an auditioned, 13-member ensemble, which rehearses in Oxford, Mass. Some members travel more than two hours each way to rehearsal. Current members come from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont. NER rings on a core instrument of six octaves of both Schulmerich Handbells and Malmark Choirchimes along with other instruments.
Cheryl Townsend, Music Director of the New England Ringers, was introduced to handbells at a 2006 music conference, which prompted her to start a handbell choir, the Faith Ringers, at The Union Congregational Church in Groton, Mass., where she has directed for the past 17 years.
The concert is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be collected and will benefit the music program at St. Stephen’s.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible via the Allen Street door.
For further information please contact Joy Mullen, Director of Music at Stephen’s, at 413-448-8276.