Department of Music to present Arkansas State University Ringers Handbell Choir

Nov. 12, 2007 -- The Arkansas State University Ringers, a handbell choir directed by Dr. M. Ellis Julien, professor of music, will present a concert of Christmas music in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, on Monday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. The choir will be ringing five octaves of Schulmerich handbells and five octaves of Malmark handchimes.

Established in 1985, the ASU Ringers is a small ensemble open to members of the student body as well as 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 12 years the Ringers have toured throughout the state of Arkansas and have presented concerts in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. This fall, in addition to their annual Christmas Concert on the campus of Arkansas State University, the Ringers will present their annual Children’s Concert in Riceland Hall, as well as off-campus concerts at the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Jonesboro and the First United Methodist Church of West Memphis.

The program features an assortment of Christmas music including  “Celebration” by Fred Gramann; “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” arranged by Michael Helman; “Prayer” by Jeanne Warzyn; “He is Born,” arranged by Cynthia Dobrinski; the Schubert setting of “Ave Maria,” arranged and sung by Patricia Register to the accompaniment of handchimes; “Masters in this Hall,” arranged by Dan Edwards; “Coventry Carol,” arranged by Michael Helman; “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow,” arranged by Cynthia Dobrinski and featuring Amy Van Slyke as clarinet soloist; “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming,” arranged by Joel Raney; “Ding, Dong, Merrily on High,” arranged by Fred Gramann; and “Hark! Christmas Bells,” a blending of “The Carol of the Bells” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by John Behnke. 

Members of the choir include Andrew Bleignier of Jonesboro, Mylie Brown of Walnut Ridge, Dr. David Gilmore of Jonesboro, Jennifer Hall of Tyronza, Ben Light of West Ridge, Jonathan Monroe of Jonesboro, Justin Register of Huntsville, Ala., Patricia Register of Florence, Ala., Jenny Shell of Evansville, Ind., Rachel Smith of Benton, Sarah Stevens of Corning, Jon Stevenson of North Little Rock, Jonathan Trail of Paragould, and Amy Van Slyke of Hardy.

There is no charge for admission and the public is cordially invited to attend. For more details, please call the Department of Music at (870) 972-2094.

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