WASHINGTON 鈥� A D.C.-area musical group is ringing in the holiday spirit with handbells.
On Sunday, the Colonial English Handbell Ringers performed a free show at Bethany Christian Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland.
鈥淭his is our 25th year ringing so we鈥檙e calling it our Silver Bells anniversary,鈥� says Elie Cossa, a co-director.
And of course this year鈥檚 theme song is 鈥淪ilver Bells,鈥� which the group played during the free show. The group鈥檚 holiday show features new pieces, including Hanukkah music. There’s also sing-a-long.
The group鈥檚 name matches their outfits. 鈥淲e actually wear colonial garb while we perform,鈥� Cossa said. 鈥淚t makes it more festive and more holiday like.鈥�
There are 13 members in the group, which includes a conductor. The ringers handle 80 bells with some weighing as much as 14 pounds.
Cossa says the famous Whitechapel foundry in London 鈥� the same foundry that made the Liberty Bell 鈥� makes the group鈥檚 bells. Cossa says they still make bells the way they did back then.
Lupe Bowen, who started ringing when she as a teenager, was now in the audience at Sunday鈥檚 show.
鈥淚鈥檓 here to watch the ringers,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd to watch my daughter ring for the first time.鈥�
The first time her daughter Isabel Bowen heard the bells was when Lupe Bowen was pregnant with her daughter more than 15 years ago.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not Christmas until I hear them,鈥� Lupe Bowen says. 鈥淎nd whether I鈥檓 ringing them or in the audience, it brings Christmas to life.鈥�
Upcoming shows
- 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 鈥擳he Central Library, Manassas, Virginia. Free concert.
- 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 鈥� The Lyceum, Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Free concert.
- 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 鈥� Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, Bowie, Maryland. $5. Show is a fundraiser for the arts center and school groups. Some funds also will go toward supporting the Colonial Ringers鈥� equipment and supplies costs.
Tickets can be purchased through our Brown Paper Tickets (service fee charged), .
