ASU Ringers to perform on Dec. 6
in Fowler Center, Riceland Hall

The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present the ASU Ringers in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6, in Riceland Hall of the Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, on the ASU campus.

The Ringers, a handbell choir, is directed by Dr. M. Ellis Julien, professor of music. The choir will be ringing five octaves of Schulmerich handbells and four octaves of Malmark handchimes.

The program features selections particularly appropriate for the holiday season and will include the following pieces:  “Joy to the World,” arranged by Betty Garee; “In the Bleak Midwinter,” by Gustav Holst, arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson; “I Saw Three Ships,” arranged by Dan Edwards; “Manger Medley,” by William Kirkpatrick, arranged by Jefferey Hall and Mark Hays; “O Christmas Tree,” arranged by Sandra Eithun; “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” arranged by Fred Gramann; and “Lo! How a Rose,” “White Christmas,” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” all arranged by Cynthia Dobrinski.

Members of the choir include Rusty Shields of Jonesboro; David Barrentine of Walnut Ridge; Justin Dugger of Batesville; Bill Weaver, Charles Pattison, Carly Gorman and Thomas Head, all of Little Rock; Russell Niemyer of Prescott; Paula Shafer of Monticello; Keith Westbrook of Benton; Tara Skinner of Daytona Beach, Fla.; Caroline Sampson and Caroline Smith, both graduate assistants of Huntsville, Ala.; and A.J. Wetton of Van Buren, Mo.

Also playing with the Ringers is Tina Glover of Piggott on flute and Roby Johnson of East Prairie, Mo., on violin.

Established in 1985, the ASU Ringers is a small ensemble open to members of the ASU student body and to members of the faculty and the community. Although most of the students are music majors, several other academic majors are also represented.

Over the past 10 years, the Ringers have toured throughout the state of Arkansas and also presented concerts in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. In July of 2005, they will celebrate 20 years of bell ringing at ASU with an 11 day tour of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Paris.

 The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Department of Music at (870) 972-2094.