A Simple Idea Grows Into A Musical Community Collaboration

We had done all we could safely do: 8- and 12-bell pieces, distancing, masks, recording our performances—but we had very much missed playing for live audiences. After getting back to a closer-to-normal schedule, we felt like celebrating.

Adele Thomas Ringers playing a solo piece. Photo by Sandra Ballew

Before the pandemic, we had attended a small yearly Sunday afternoon festival hosted by a local church. We decided to pattern our celebration on that model. Each group attending would play on their own, and we would do some joint pieces. We would end the afternoon with a concert and refreshments. With the enthusiastic approval of our sponsor, Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac, we set a date for April 16, 2023, and reserved space at the church where we rehearse. Tuesday Musicale sponsors both Bellissima! and its sister group, Adele Thomas Ringers, so we had two choirs already. We sent invitations to churches where our members played or had connections, thinking we might find two or three other choirs who would join us. From the seven choirs we contacted, five immediately said they wanted to come. Our celebration was going to be much bigger than expected.

Massed ringing, conducted by Judy Phillips. Photo by Laura LaMonte Harris

We picked the massed ring pieces. We sketched out floorplans. But what about refreshments? We had a problem. The ladies who normally handle receptions for our Tuesday Musicale programs also ring in the bell choirs. They really couldn’t handle the task, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Then, at a planning meeting for Pontchartrain Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, of which I am a member, I mentioned the festival we were planning. The SAI group jumped right in. They decided to make our festival a service project and were very glad to provide refreshments and pass out programs for us.

Refreshments provided by our SAI partners. Photo by Jenise Collins

The festival was a standing-room-only success. The SAI sisters discovered friends (and even some other SAIs) among the Tuesday Musicale group, reminding us how small the music community can be, even in a big metro area. The refreshments were wonderful, and there were lots of smiles all around. Some of the SAIs were not familiar with handbells. After hearing us play, they persuaded a local community band (where some of them play) to invite Bellissima! to share a holiday concert in December 2023. We welcome the chance to share the joy of handbells with a new audience, and look forward to building more connections through our art. We are also planning another bell festival for April 2024.

We had done all we could safely do: 8- and 12-bell pieces, distancing, masks, recording our performances—but we had very much missed playing for live audiences. After getting back to a closer-to-normal schedule, we felt like celebrating.

Adele Thomas Ringers playing a solo piece. Photo by Sandra Ballew

Before the pandemic, we had attended a small yearly Sunday afternoon festival hosted by a local church. We decided to pattern our celebration on that model. Each group attending would play on their own, and we would do some joint pieces. We would end the afternoon with a concert and refreshments. With the enthusiastic approval of our sponsor, Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac, we set a date for April 16, 2023, and reserved space at the church where we rehearse. Tuesday Musicale sponsors both Bellissima! and its sister group, Adele Thomas Ringers, so we had two choirs already. We sent invitations to churches where our members played or had connections, thinking we might find two or three other choirs who would join us. From the seven choirs we contacted, five immediately said they wanted to come. Our celebration was going to be much bigger than expected.

Massed ringing, conducted by Judy Phillips. Photo by Laura LaMonte Harris

We picked the massed ring pieces. We sketched out floorplans. But what about refreshments? We had a problem. The ladies who normally handle receptions for our Tuesday Musicale programs also ring in the bell choirs. They really couldn’t handle the task, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Then, at a planning meeting for Pontchartrain Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, of which I am a member, I mentioned the festival we were planning. The SAI group jumped right in. They decided to make our festival a service project and were very glad to provide refreshments and pass out programs for us.

Refreshments provided by our SAI partners. Photo by Jenise Collins

The festival was a standing-room-only success. The SAI sisters discovered friends (and even some other SAIs) among the Tuesday Musicale group, reminding us how small the music community can be, even in a big metro area. The refreshments were wonderful, and there were lots of smiles all around. Some of the SAIs were not familiar with handbells. After hearing us play, they persuaded a local community band (where some of them play) to invite Bellissima! to share a holiday concert in December 2023. We welcome the chance to share the joy of handbells with a new audience, and look forward to building more connections through our art. We are also planning another bell festival for April 2024.

Guest Columnist
Judy Phillips

Judy Phillips is director of both Bellissima! and the Adele Thomas Ringers, community handbell ensembles sponsored by the Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac, Michigan, a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs. The club is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023, and started their first handbell choir in 1975. Judy earned her Master of Church Music degree in handbells from Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. She is a published composer, and a proud member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Professional Music Fraternity for Women.