Westminster Concert Bell Choir
2014 New England Tour
The 16-member Westminster Concert Bell Choir is composed of undergraduate and graduate students of Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Its director is Kathleen Ebling Shaw. This year celebrates the 36th year of the handbell curriculum at Westminster Choir College who was the first institution in the world to develop such a program.
Hailed for its virtuosity, the Westminster Concert Bell Choir uses the largest range of handbells in the world – 8 octaves, from C1 to C9. Many of the bells are made of bronze and range in weight from four ounces to 11 pounds; the Choir also uses the large “Basso Profundo” aluminum-cast bells that are a new phenomenon in handbell ringing. The Choir supplements their handbell set with a six-octave set of Malmark Choirchime® instruments from C2 to C8 – the widest range in existence.
The Westminster Concert Bell Choir has appeared on Public Television’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and several holiday broadcasts of the “Today” show, including one in which the ensemble was joined by NBC television personalities Katie Couric and Willard Scott. Its holiday performances have been heard annually on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” and it is included on NPR’s Christmas Around The Country II recording.
The Choir has performed at Carnegie Hall twice during the Christmas season and was featured on New Jersey Network’s State Of The Arts program.
In December 2002 the ensemble joined Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charlotte Church and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a critically acclaimed 15-city tour entitled “A Royal Christmas.” Most recently, the Choir joined singer, Josh Groban, appearing at NBC’s nationally televised Lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
The Choir has made nine recordings: The Pealing Bells, Westminster Concert Bell Choir, Christmas Bells, Westminster Rings!, Praise and Adoration, Christmas at Westminster: The Westminster Concert Bell Choir, By Request, Westminster Concert Bell Choir: 30th Anniversary Collection and A Time To Dance.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
7:30 Free-will
First Congregational Church
103 Main Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-438-8077
Monday, May 19, 2014
7:00 Free-will
South United Methodist Church
1226 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040
860- 647-9141
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
7:30 Free-will
Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
207 Washington Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
781-235-4424
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
7:30 Free-will Offering
United Church of Christ
496 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052
508-359-2351
Thursday, May 22, 2014
7:30 Free-will Offering
John Wesley United Methodist Church
Gifford Street & Jones Road
Falmouth, MA 02540
508-548-3050
Friday, May 23, 2014
7:00 p.m. Free-will Offering
Brookside Congregational Church
2013 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03104
603-669-2807
Sunday, May 25, 2014
4:00 p.m. Suggested Free-will $10 Adults/$5 Students and Seniors
First Congregational Church
55 Elm Street
Camden, ME 04843
207-236-4821
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
7:30 p.m. Free-will
St. Brendan Parish
384 Hartford Avenue
Bellingham, MA 02019
