Three Rivers Ringers to Perform Christmas Concert in Sewickley

The Three Rivers Ringers have announced a concert schedule that includes  a stop in  to —naturally— ring in the Christmas season. 

The first concert will be today at 4 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church in Crafton Heights. Concerts will be held through December in Sewickley, Mt. Lebanon and Evans City.

The concerts will feature a mix of traditional , pops tunes, classical music and original arrangements.

“A lot of existing music are things people are already familiar with, but some people write just for handbells as well,” said managing director Andy Seay. “We’re trying to bring that music to the forefront to show handbells aren’t just for Christmas.”

Seay said the collection of non-holiday handbell music has grown over the past 50 years, as the instrument has become more popular. But Christmas is still a perfect time of year to showcase the instrument, he said.

“Handbells and Christmas kind of go together like peas and carrots,” Seay said. “Christmas is the time of year when people want to hear handbells.”

The 14-member ensemble formed last year and rehearses at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church. 

After the concert, the audience is invited up to the stage to meet the performers and give the bells a try. Seay said it’s part of the group’s mission to  listeners about the art of handbell ringing— but it’s also just fun.

“People get a chance to get up close to the ringers themselves,” Seay said. “It’s always cool to see a four or five-year-old pick up a bell for the first time and be amazed by it.”

If you’re going, concerts are:

• Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church in Crafton Heights.
• Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. at Bower Hill Community Church in Mt. Lebanon.
• Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. at St. John’s United  in Evans City.
• Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. at in Sewickley.

Admission to all concerts is free. Donations will be accepted.