Feb. 28: St. Olaf Handbell Choir
The St. Olaf Handbell Choir, from St. Olaf College, will be performing a concert at Plymouth on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free but a freewill offering will be taken. This performance is part of their Winter Wonder Tour.
The St. Olaf Handbell choir has an adventurous and engaging tour concert planned this year. The widely-varied program features original compositions, arrangements, and everything from hymns to Duke Ellington. A highlight will be a piece featuring student Joel Dressler ’28 on bell tree. Other compositions combine bells with flute, piano and voice.
The St. Olaf Handbell Choir was founded in 1983 under the direction of Robert Thompson, Professor of Organ. In 1985 the group was taken over by Norman Heitz who equipped the group with the five octaves of Malmark bells that are used today. In 1993 the group was handed over to Karl Zinsmeister. Since 1995, the program has been under the direction of Jill Mahr and has grown to include four handbell ensembles. Jill directs the St. Olaf Handbell Choir and the Chapel Ringers. The Manitou Handbell Choir and Valhalla Ringers are student-directed.
The St. Olaf Handbell choir is the premier ensemble of the handbell program at St. Olaf College. The ensemble is an auditioned group that meets twice a week. On campus they perform for daily chapel and Sunday church services, student recitals, and an annual spring concert featuring all the handbell choirs. In addition, they regularly perform off campus at church services, retirement centers and various concerts. They performed their first Kid’s Concert in 2007 and enjoyed it so much that they have made it an annual event. Sixteen years ago, the group began touring, performing in many cities in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. They have participated in the critically acclaimed St. Olaf Christmas Festival five times premiering Glories Ring, Joyous Noel and Gladsome Bellswritten for handbells and orchestra by former faculty member Steven Amundson. The choir has premiered over forty pieces in Jill Mahr’s tenure. The St. Olaf bell program offers an ensemble ringing experience (duet, trios,quartets) during the month-long January interim.
