You have quite a few concerts coming up with the Sag Harbor Community Bell Choir.
Yes, this weekend we play Friday at Peconic Landing on the North Fork, which is only the second time we’ll have played on the North Fork. I hope it’ll be a concert we can do each year. That starts at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, we’ll be at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, which has been behind us every year since we became a community choir. We only missed one year when we go snowed out by a blizzard. The funny thing was, when we rescheduled, we got snowed out again. That concert starts at 5 p.m. And on Sunday we’ll at St. Andrews Church in Sag Harbor at 4 p.m.
Is that it?
We have one more scheduled. On December 18 at 4 p.m. we’ll be in Montauk at St. Therese Lisieux.
Most of our performances are free will offering. At all concerts we collect money for local food pantries.
Is that part of your goal?
Yes, our mission is to share our music and give back to the community.
How is the choir set up now that you’re no longer affiliated with the Old Whalers’ Church?
We started with the church in 1993, but we’ve been a community choir since 2006, and we’ve had to buy our own bells. That cost us nine grand, which we’re just finishing paying off. It’s a three octave, 37 bell set.
Does being a community choir allow you some freedom in the type of music you play?
When we played with the church we had to play one concert a month, and every holiday. This arrangement allows people to have more time to themselves. We start practicing for Christmas in September.
How has the program changed?
We play different music each year. We try to bring in some more popular music, and not necessarily church or religious music. For example, this year we’re doing the “March of the Wooden Soldiers.”
We have Bruce Beyer playing percussion for us; there are about four different pieces of percussion in the pieces we do. Wood blocks, sleighbells, even an instrument that makes a whip crack sound called a vibraslap.
What’s new this year?
We decided to go and pull out a few pieces we haven’t done in a while, “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock.”
We’re doing “Silver bells,” everybody likes that. We’re also doing “O Holy Night” with Megan Chaskey, a flutist from Sag Harbor.
We’ll do “Away in a Manger” and a singalong “Silent Night.” And then we’ll finish with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Are you looking for more gigs?
We’re always looking for gigs. Now that we’ve paid off our bells, we want to get chimes.
We’ve had the bells for four years and we will probably have to have them tuned for next year; that’s probably another $500.
As director, what do you enjoy most about the bell choir?
I love bringing our music to people. I love getting people into the holiday spirit. I’ve been a musician all my life and it’s what I enjoy doing.
How has the membership changed and how many play?
There are 10 ringers; for three octaves that’s pretty much a set number.
And there are only three of the original members left, Tracy Kohnken, David Cummings and myself.
I used to be able to take anybody, whether they could read or not. Now we’re at a level where they need to read.
What would be your dream for the choir?
I’d like to try to do a spring concert each year, but with different music. One thing I’d like to do is “Stairway to Heaven.” I’ve seen the Raleigh Ringers do it, it sounds amazing on bells. They had a group commission it for bells, and I’ve tried to get the music but they won’t let it out. They play so many other rock pieces, like “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Anything else?
My loftiest dream would be to take the choir to Europe and play some of the old churches and cathedrals.
Maybe, who knows.
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