Church’s handbell choirs ring in holidays

HUNTLEY — First Congregational Church (FCC) of Huntley’s two handbell choirs, the Genesis Bell Choir and Whitechapel Bell Choir, performed holiday songs for a concert during Very Merry Huntley fun.

“Just come and learn to play, anyone can learn handbells,” Genesis Handbell Choir director Trish Wascher said.

The Genesis group is for beginning handbell players while the Whutechapel Bell choir, directed by Joel Ahrendt, is for more experienced handbell players. The groups also were scheduled to give a concert at weekly church services Dec. 15.

First Congregational Church Pastor Michael Smith described the Very Merry Huntley event as a “reach out to the community.”

Ahrendt, who has been part of the church handbell choirs as director since 1993, told the audience some of the details of how the Whitechapel Bells work. The biggest Whitechapel bell weighs 16 pounds.

“I love to be able to convince someone they can play a piece and then hear them play it well,” Ahrendt, of Union, said. “They usually have about a month of practice before they perform it.”

Ahrendt described his musical background as having an early start, from learning piano as a young boy.

Genesis Handbell Choir Director Wascher has been leading bell choirs at the church since the 1990s.

“I love to teach people how to play bells, that it is not too difficult,” Wascher said. “We also have a good time and a lot of fun. I used to play bells at Cary Methodist Church, and enjoyed it there, too. The First Congregational Church asked me to start a youth choir.”

Washar’s sons, Robert and Ryan, are also involved in handbell choirs. Robert has the role of ringing the largest handbell.

“Robert is very musical, and has played a long time. He works full-time and can’t usually make our rehearsals, so he learns a piece that day, but they’re usually ones he has played before,” Trish Wascher said.

The Genesis Handbell Choir includes a mom and son, Dayna Stroh and her 8-year-old son, Phoenix. Dayna is also part of Whitechapel Bell Choir.

“Phoenix started with us in September and he really likes it,” Trish Wascher said.

“I learned to play handbells when I was a kid,” Dayna Stroh said.

Maintenance of the handbell sets is a challenge, and fund-raising events such as the cookie walk at Very Merry Huntley help. The current personnel to do that job reside in South Carolina.

“The handbell choirs began at the First Congregational Church of Huntley in the 1960s when our first set of Whitechapel Handbells was purchased from Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England. Their beautiful, mellow tones have been heard, rung and enjoyed by several generations here at church. Handbells are the only instrument anyone can learn to play as being able to read music is not necessary,” according to the concert program.

The Genesis Handbell Choir performed: Angels from the Realms of Glory”; “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Jingle All the Way.” The Whitechapel Bell Choir played “Manger Medley; “God Rest Ye Merry” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”