[NEohioPAL]AMAZING Handbell Choir called "RING OF FIRE"

[Pjanson02 at aol.com]

Hi,

I just wanted to let my music and theatre friends in the community know about a concert tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 10th, featuring an AMAZING Handbell Choir called "RING OF FIRE."  I saw this group performing last month in Texas and they proved to be an phenomenal group of young people performing very challenging handbell music.

Those of you new to Handbell Choirs and think it sounds boring, please read on.  A handbell ensemble usually consists of 13 members in charge of ringing a number of bells in order to play a lovely piece of music.  Traditionally, handbell choirs were strictly for "church music," but handbells choirs are venturing out of churches to also play "concert music" that is challenging and exciting.  RING OF FIRE is one of the groups leading the charge.  

I will tell you that the group consists of students in 8th to 10th grade from a school in Oregon, but do NOT think that it means they are just a kids' group or at all amateur.  They play an hour-long concert of VERY difficult music completely memorized.  What their director, Jason Wells, has done with this group in 7 years is simply incredible.  The 13 members cover 61 bells between them, which leads to much creativity and choreography in playing each necessary note.  Since they play memorized (which almost NO other groups can do), this group provides much physical energy into their performance.

They have played with the Boston Pops, for the inauguration of President Bush, and all around the world.  AND they are making a stop in the Cleveland area this week.  They can be seen:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th at 7:30 p.m. at
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
245 Portage Trail
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
(330) 923-5241 

I assume there is a $10-15 charge but I am not sure.  I AM sure that they will be worth it for anyone even curious about this up-and-coming trend in music.

Sincerely,

Patrick Janson

FYI - I am starting a handbell choir at my school, Saint Joseph Academy, next fall.  I can only hope my students can attain this level of ability someday!