Community Handbell Choir to Perform Holiday Concert in Ridgewood

The Jersey Jubilation handbell choir will celebrate the season with its 14th annual concert of holiday music at 8 p.m. Friday, December 15, at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St.

The program will include well-loved songs and carols originating from countries around the world: “Carol of the Bells” (Ukraine), “The First Noel,” (England), “Fum Fum Fum” (Spain), “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” (Poland), “Wexford Carol” (Ireland), “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” (West Indies) and “O Christmas Tree” (Germany). It will also include compositions with lineage closer to home, such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Go Tell It.”

This year’s program will feature Brian Tricoli, handbell soloist. In addition, selections will include Elizabeth Hartman on flute and Kevin Moran, a senior at Ridgewood High School providing percussion accompaniment.

A free-will offering (suggested donation $10) will be taken and refreshments will be served.

The Jersey Jubilation handbell choir was established in September 2004 as a not-for-profit performance-level community choir whose purpose is to provide ringing opportunities to experienced ringers and to bring the unique sound of handbells to audiences in the area. The 13 members of the choir come from Bergen, Passaic and Rockland Counties and New York City. The choir presents a wide variety of music, including arrangements of sacred, classical, folk songs and secular music in addition to original works for handbells. The choir rings five octaves of Whitechapel handbells, five octaves of Suzuki handchimes and the newly acquired sixth octave of Malmark low bass chimes. The bells and rehearsal space are graciously provided by the Ridgewood United Methodist Church.

The choir is under the direction of Christine Braden who has been ringing and directing handbells for over 35 years. For additional information, contact Braden at (201) 447-2751, visit the choir’s website at www.jerseyjubilation.org or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jerseyjubilation/.