Or at least that’s what Joyce Engel hopes will happen.
Engel is the director of the Calvary Lutheran Church Handbell Choir known as Bellcanto. This year the group is celebrating 25 years together, and they are gearing up for a special 25th anniversary performance on Sunday, Nov. 10. The free concert will take place at the church at 2 p.m., with treats afterward.
“The first time I heard them, I was in awe,” said Patti Larson, a Calvary Lutheran member since 1989. “It was absolutely beautiful.”
Larson, who has worked as a custodian for the church for almost three years, always makes sure to clean the sanctuary when the handbell choir is practicing so she can listen to the “beautiful music” coming from the bell ringers.
In honor of the special concert, the handbell choir had a special piece of music commissioned by a famous handbell choir composer, Cathy Moklebust. The song, “Ring We Joyfully,” will have its world premiere at the Calvary concert, Joyce said.
Joyce, who has played handbells for years, started the Bellcanto Handbell Choir at Calvary in August 1994. Her husband, John Engel, was a handbell choir director at their church in Arlington Hills, where Joyce was a substitute player. The couple met while they were in a community band together.
For Joyce, handbell choirs are a wonderful music ministry.
“The music is especially beautiful,” she said. “It can be happy, it can be sad. It’s mesmerizing; almost hypnotic. When the rhythm picks up, it can energize your soul.”
Diana Engel, the youngest daughter of Joyce and John, practices with the group every week even though she is unable to make the performances on Sundays. Her two sisters, Amy Engel-Duong from Fairmount and Julia Larson from St. Paul, also play handbells.
Diana, who will be performing at the special anniversary concert in November, officially started playing with the group while in middle school.
“I’d come along to the practices with my parents and would tinker around a little,” she said. “Eventually, it naturally became part of my life. It’s kind of cool and exciting to be able to be a part of this group.”
John said his wife chooses music with a variety of rhythm and often is based on the theme of the scriptures. At its designated Sunday service, the handbell choir typically plays one or two songs.
In a church book, “Calvary Through the Ages,” published in 2002, Joyce explained that the handbells were purchased through the generous gifts and memorials of church members. With the donations reaching nearly $8,000, a three-octave set of Schulmerich handbells, plus specially designed handbell tables and pads, were purchased.
“I went to the pastor then, Keith Forrester, and asked him if we could start a handbell choir,” said Joyce. “I don’t know what magic he did, but we got enough money to purchase the starter set of bells.”
In addition, one of the members, Eileen Anderson, sewed custom table covers for the handbell tables, Joyce said.
When the group began practicing, the 11 members ranged from middle school age to retirees. The size of the group has varied over the years, but on average there are at least 11 members.
Bellcanto has been a consistent part of worship at Calvary Lutheran Church since its inception. At one time, there was even a children’s bell choir, which was directed by Karen Christ. The Children’s Chancel Chimes included students in grades 3-6.
In February 2001, a second handbell choir, True Bellievers, was formed. Neither that group nor the children’s choir is active at this time, although Joyce would love to resurrect either or both.
During the past 25 years, the handbell choir has played at several special events, including at the Northwestern Minnesota Synod Assembly in Moorhead in 2001. The Bellcanto group has also participated in a handbell choir festival with an estimated 150 individual bell ringers from across the state.
In 1998, the handbell choir was once again blessed with a memorial that made it possible to purchase the upper half of the fourth octave of Schulmerich handbells, expanding the range of music it can play. They have also added tone chimes to their set, which were a donation from church members Marv and Theresa Nysetvold.
The handbells themselves are made out of copper and tin and the handles are vinyl. The players often wear special handbell gloves when they practice and perform, as it keeps the bells from being littered with fingerprints.
Joyce Lauer, a Bellcanto member for the past three years, moved to the area from California. She started playing handbells in junior high.
“I didn’t think handbell choirs existed here when I moved,” said Lauer. “I was pretty excited when I heard about it and Joyce asked me to join.
“It’s just so much fun. I play piano, too, but this is totally different. It’s a different, unique music.”
Joelle Burreson, one of the Bellcanto original members, was a music teacher in the Alexandria School District for 37 years. And although she taught band and orchestra, Burreson had never played handbells before.
“I started because she asked me,” Burreson said as she pointed to Joyce Engel and smiled. “I play oboe. I had never rung the bells before.”
Burreson said Joyce is always choosing new music that challenges the group, and the camaraderie of the members keeps her coming back week after week.
Joyce plays the bells right along with her members during practice, counting off the beat, “One, two … one, two … one, two, three,” as she sways and moves to the music. The retired special education teacher said anyone can ring the bells.
“From teenagers to retirees and everyone in between,” she said. “It’s fun, especially when you let your body move in time with the rhythm and hear the unique sounds coming from the handbells.”