The Choate Handbell Choir joined with the Fairfield Country Day School Handbell Choir on Sunday, December 2nd, to perform in a Christmas handbell concert, which took place in Seymour St. John’s Chapel at 5:00 p.m. The concert featured seventeen Choate musicians along with fifteen from the Fairfield Country Day School. The Choate participants were Handbell Choir President Grace Ann Marrinan ’08, Katherine Bercovitz ’09, Lauren DiMatteo ’08, Caitin Fitzpatrick ’08, Abena Hagan-Brown ’08, Maggie Hart ’08, Maura Leahy ’09, Amanda Nielsen ’08, Ayaka Okawa ’10, Jackie Salzillo ’08, Sabrina Shin ’10, Julie Sophonpanich ’08, Bridget Vaughn ’08, Emily Vitale ’08, Caroline Wilson ’09, Helen Yuen ’08, and Ms. Julie Oxborough. Mr. Mark Tisdale, also an active member of the choir, was unfortunately unable to attend the performance.
The event marked two milestones for the handbell choir: the performance was Choate’s first Christmas-themed handbell concert and the first time that our bell choir has played with the Fairfield Country Day School’s. The Fairfield Country Day School, located in Fairfield, Connecticut, is an all-boys elementary and middle school. While the Choate handbell choir is a club in which any student can participate, whether he or she has a musical background or not, the members of the Fairfield Country Day School handbell choir must audition to be admitted into the group. When asked about her thoughts on playing with the Fairfield Country Day School, Caroline Wilson ’09 said, “It was hot.” She adds, “Emily Vitale played superbly.” Vitale returned the compliment, saying “Caroline Wilson played exceptionally.” Nick Auer, a member of the Fairfield Country Day School choir, stated, “It was great to play with another school. It is definitely something to do in the future.” Tucker Pearson, another dedicated member of the choir who missed his hockey game for the event, enthused, “It was a magical musical medley.” Grace Ann Marrinan ’08 also felt positive about the performance: “It put everyone in the holiday spirit.”
The two choirs played a total of twelve songs, each filled with holiday spirit. Some pieces were played by both choirs in unison, such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Silver Bells,” while others were played separately. Many familiar Christmas songs were played, such as “Carol of the Bells,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Deck the Halls,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Both ensembles are directed by Mary Nelson. The pieces performed featured not only hand bells but also mallets, chimes, jingle bells, and a bongo drum. The choir also showed their talent through the use of difficult rhythms and techniques, such as martellato—when the musician hits the bell on the table—and shaking during their pieces.
In addition to performing at the Baccalaureate ceremony before Commencement in the spring, the Choate handbell choir will perform on Sunday, December 9th at 5:00 p.m. in the Seymour St. John Chapel for the Festival of Lessons and Carols. That ceremony, which has a traditional religious flavor, celebrates Christmas through the singing and playing of Christmas carols by the Choate Festival Chorus, Chamber Chorus, and Handbell Choir. In addition, the story of Christmas will be read at the event. The festival will give students and faculty members an opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of Christmas as we commence the holiday season.
The Choate Bell Choir performed on Sunday with the handbell choir from the Fairfield Country Day School. Members (from left to right) Bridget Vaughn ’08 , Sabrina Shin’10, and Julie Sophonpanich ’08 are pictured. PHOTO/Andrew Dominguez ’08
