First Annual Great Christmas Ring Coming to Fredericksburg Area

The Stafford Regional Handbell Society -- the Fredericksburg area’s only community handbell group -- announces THE GREAT CHRISTMAS RING. The Great Christmas Ring is a mass ring event for handbells designed to be held in public spaces throughout the Christmas Season. Phillip Lanier - http://www.phillipwlanier.com and Neesa Hart - http://www.frickandfrackmusic.com , the principal directors of the Society’s 9 ensembles, created the event to inspire handbell ringers to get bells out into the community during the Christmas season when they are the most popular. ”Thousands of people,” says Lanier, “are only familiar with handbells because they see them in advertising at Christmas.” The most popular and widely seen example is the Hershey Kisses commercial that has aired during the season for the past decade.

The Great Christmas Ring combines an unlimited number of handbell musicians ringing together a selection of secular holiday favorites and familiar carols. The music is designed to be played with no tables and pads -- the traditionally set up for the instrument -- so it’ s highly portable. Any musician who wants to participate needs two natural chromatic bells (all music is written in the same key with no accidentals) and a music stand. The music is available online before the event, or at the event site. Every musician who participates receives an annual commemorative button. ”It’s fun. It’s portable, and it’s a Mammoth Good Time,” says Hart who is organizing this year’s event.

For those who wish to attend -- admission is FREE -- the event will be held in the Leatherneck Gallery of the National Museum of the US Marine Corps December 13 at 2 PM.

For those who wish to ring, contact the Society via the Event’s Website -- http://www.thegreatchristmasring.org or the Society’s webpage -- http://www.staffordregionalhandellsociety.org -- for details.