Greene County News

FAIRBORN — The two St. Mark’s Lutheran Church handbell choirs are holding a free handbell workshop 12-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at the church, 100 E. Main Street, aimed at demonstrating how to ring handbells and read handbell music.

The workshop is for anyone 8-80 years old who would like to learn about English handbells and the many bell techniques that are being used today. Mary Anne Blazer, Director of Music at St. Mark’s Lutheran, will lead the workshop along with several helpers.

The Fairborn Ringers Handbell Choir is for young people ages 8-18 years old and is a community-based group for any students in the Fairborn, Enon or Yellow Springs area and school systems. There is no cost to participate in the ensemble and gloves are provided for each person.

The ringers rehearse 12:30-1:30 p.m. each Sunday (except holidays) at St. Mark’s and ring several times for worship services, assisted care facilities and for the annual Greene County Handbell Festival, slated for Sunday, April 30, at Abiding Christ Lutheran Church.

The Baroque’N Bells are mainly an adult handbell ensemble, which rehearses 7-8:15 p.m. each Wednesday and ring in one worship service a month, special events and the Greene County Handbell Festival.

Anyone wishing to learn about handbells — ringing, techniques — and to sign up for this Saturdays workshop, contact Blazer at 937-767-1892 so that workshop officials have enough helpers at the event.