Pittsfield — You needn’t be “bell crazy” to like the New England Ringers (NER), because the group already has that base covered: It reports that “some ringers (the truly bell-crazy ones) travel more than two hours each way to rehearsals.”
But that is not crazy. That is dedication, and you can hear the product of it when St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church presents the New England Ringers’ 2023 Holiday Concert, “The Greatest Gift,” on Sunday, December 10. The music will range from holiday classics and favorites to contemporary works from up-and-coming composers. It will also include congregational carol singing with organ and handbell accompaniment.
If you have never witnessed a professional hand bell ensemble in concert, then you may not realize how advanced some of the repertory can be in these performances. They are not the languid affairs some of us may remember from kindergarten. Modern hand bell groups like the New England Ringers enjoy tackling some very sophisticated and complex musical arrangements. That is why membership in the group is by invitation and audition. (They hold “marathon” rehearsals that members say are fueled by coffee and chocolate.)
Members of the New England Ringers come from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont. The group formed in 2000 for the purpose of performing at the National Directors Seminar of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers in Buffalo, N.Y., and, inspired by that experience, soon found themselves on a mission to perform more challenging repertory at the highest level.
Here are NER’s members:
- Liz Almstrom, of Oxford, Mass., has been ringing at her church, First Congregational Church of Oxford, for over 20 years.
- Susie Amos, of Worcester, Mass., started playing handbells in the sixth grade and now plays them for the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury.
- In addition to NER, Samantha Beschta rings with ChimeIn! Music with a Mission in Bethlehem, Conn., and also with a handbell trio called FaLiSaD (pronounced Felicity).
- Amie Briggs has been ringing handbells for over 30 years, starting at the Village Congregational Church in Northbridge, Mass. in the third grade.
- Farrell Brown began ringing in the fourth grade, joining Chime In! Music with a Mission in Bethlehem, Conn. shortly after graduating from the University of Connecticut. She is also a member of the Connecticut Handbell Musicians in Bristol, Conn.
- Linn Clark, of Shrewsbury, MA, started ringing in 2017 at the First Congregational church in Shrewsbury, but she has enjoyed music all her life, from piano to chorus.
- Carolyn Elmore lives in Nashua, N.Y. and has been ringing for about 50 years, joining NER in 2008 and also ringing with the Faith Ringers at the Union Congregational church in Groton, Mass.
- Beth Hansen, of Worcester, Mass., began ringing handbells with the Chapel Ensemble at UCC Medfield, rang with Copious Notes for a time, and currently rings in the choir at First Congregational UCC in Shrewsbury, Mass.
- Tim Jenkins started ringing when he was 11 years old and has worked with several handbell ensembles, joining NER at its founding.
- Megan Mendenhall, of Cambridge, Mass., started ringing handbells during college and has played with the handbell choir at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury.
- Katherine Murcko, of Holliston, Mass., has been ringing since 1993 at Holliston’s First Congregational Church, having directed the handbell choir at Christ the King Church of Holliston for 12 years.
- Todd Sauter, of Littleton, Mass., joined NER in 2022 after many years of ringing in the First Congregational Church of Oxford, where he also serves as moderator and historian.
- Cathy Shires, of Waterbury Center, Vt., started ringing handbells with her church ensemble at UCC Medfield in the late 90s.
- Curtis Smith, director of music at the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury, has been playing handbells for 7 years and also plays pipe organ and piano.
- Dawn Stitham started ringing bells in 1999 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Bristol, Conn. and worked with the Connecticut Handbell Musicians and Chime In! Music with a Mission in Bethlehem, Conn.
- Heather Topolski, of Pittsfield, having started with handbells in 2011, has rung with the South Street Church in St. Johnsbury, Vt.; the First Congregational Church in Gardner, Mass.; and currently rings with the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Ringers in Pittsfield.
- Amelia Wiggins began ringing handbells as a fourth grader at the Congregational Church of Littleton, Mass. and joined NER in 2012 before pursuing a volunteer position abroad in El Salvador, rejoining NER nearly nine years later.
- Gina Marie Williams, of Ledyard, Conn., has been ringing for 24 years, and as director of music and worship technology at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, Conn., she directs five handbell choirs and a senior vocal choir.
NER’s director, Cheryl Townsend, has been a member of the group since 2014. She is also in her 18th year as handbell director at Union Congregational Church in Groton, Mass. Cheryl earned a Bachelor of Music at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, having been a musician since starting piano lessons at the age of six. She has been teaching piano since 1985 and enjoys accompanying choral groups, soloists, and musical theater.
NER rings on a core instrument of six octaves of Schulmerich Handbells and seven octaves of Malmark Choirchimes.
Hear the New England Ringers in a holiday concert at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East Street, Pittsfield, on December 10, 3 p.m. For more information, visit St. Stephen’s website or call (413) 448-8276.
