Performing at Bozeman United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 16th, are the Wesley Bell Ringers at 7:30pm. This will be the seventh concert on the choir’s 58th annual Summer tour and will feature 16 teenage ringers playing more than 150 handbells and handchimes.
In 1963, the Wesley Bell Ringers, a music ministry of Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, UT, began with 9 youth ringers and 25 bells. From the very beginning membership in the choir has been open to any youth dedicated to learning the art of handbell ringing and caring for their fellow ringers.
Fast forward 60 years! The 16 current ringers are the most recent of more than 500 youth who have participated in the choir. The experience and dedication has never changed. The choir developed a reputation for musical excellence that continues to open doors to exciting opportunities. The previous 57 summer tours have taken the choir to all 50 states and all but one of the Canadian provinces. They have performed at the US Capitol, Cathedral of the Pines National Monument, Mt. Rushmore, George Washington Masonic Memorial, Disneyland and Disneyworld. The choir has participated as the featured choir at numerous handbell festivals around the United States, and performed for The National Music Educators convention. Performances with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Utah Symphony Orchestra have been repeated honors over the choir’s history. In 2017, the choir was invited to record with The Piano Guys on their album “Christmas Together.”
photo by Jake Allison
This year, the choir is thrilled to be invited to perform a solo concert as the featured youth choir at the “Ringing Up! Festival” on June 15th, hosted by Area 11 of the Handbell Musicians of America.
Highlights from the 2024 summer concert include Disney’s “Go The Distance,” Léon Boëllmann’s “Toccata from Suite Gothique,” Sondra Tucker’s “Christmas Kaleidoscope,” and commissioned selections from noted handbell composers Kevin McChesney and Joel Raney.
Bozeman United Methodist Church is located at 121 S. Wilson St., Bozeman, MT 59715. Admission to the concert is free, and a free-will offering will be collected for those who want to support the choir.
Learn more about the ensemble at www.thewesleybellringers.com. •
