Westminster Ringers
by Barbara Pash
Audiences clap. They cry. They sing along. The reaction to Westminster Ringers repertoire, everything from religious and classical to pop tunes, is beyond enthusiastic.
“We believe our music should move you,” said Larry Henning, who, with his wife, Debbie Henning, in 1997, founded and co-directs Westminster Ringers, a non-profit community handbell group. “It’s a wonderful experience for the audience and the players.”
The Hennings, Westminster residents and the parents of three, are long-time handbell players. Debbie, director of music at Gettysburg United Methodist Church, has been playing since childhood. Larry, a seventh grade teacher at Mount Airy Middle School, has played since high school.
The couple wanted to give others the opportunity to play as well and, moreover, to advance the music beyond the typical church and school venues.
“The nice thing about being a community group is that we can play all types of music,” Debbie said.
It also makes Westminster Ringers unique in the area and the country.
“Community groups represent 1 percent of the handbell population in the U.S.,” said Debbie, whose group performs two public concerts per year, at Carroll Community College, and by invitation at churches, schools and retirement homes.
In handbells, each bell is one note. In a full choir, each musician is assigned two bells; the musician is responsible for following the music and playing those bells/notes when they appear in the music. In a quartet, a musician might cover 10 to 11 bells. The quartet plays the same music as a full choir, with the technical difficulty depending on the ability of the musicians.
Larry said there is a correct way to ring the bell.
“The amount of energy you use affects the sound,” he said. “The movement of the hand creates different sounds.”
As part of its mission, Westminster Ringers offers lessons and workshops. The Hennings don’t know if this has spurred a growth in handbell music in Carroll County, but they do know that every year when they hold open auditions for players, more musicians show up than they have openings for, and, partly for that reason, they have expanded from the original single choir to four.
Westminster Ringers has two full choirs, one for advanced, the other for intermediate players, with 15 to 18 members in each, and two quartets. Peggy and Kyler Brengle have been members of the advanced choir for a decade, performing in eight to 12 concerts during the fall to spring season.
“I enjoy working with a group of people,” said Kyler, a Westminster resident and retired teacher. “We play challenging music. The comment I hear from audience members is how beautiful it is. They didn’t know handbells could play music like that.”
Nancy Wortman also plays in the advanced choir. Wortman, a Baltimore County resident and middle school staffer, learned to play handbells in her church choir. Six years ago, she accompanied a friend to a Westminster Ringers audition. While there, she tried out herself.
“Even with my previous experience, I never expected to make it into a group like the Westminster Ringers,” Wortman said.
Sarah White said the reaction from audiences is one of awe.
“There is great appreciation and joy,” said White, an Elkridge resident and, a member of the advanced choir. “I very much enjoy playing.”
Westminster Ringers is approaching its busiest season – Christmas.
“People think bells and Christmas go together,” said Larry, although he and Debbie are doing their best to persuade audiences otherwise.
Still, Debbie said, “The nice thing about being a community group is that we can play all types of music.”
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” on handbells? It just might happen.
2015 HOLIDAY CONCERTS
December 5
Mount Airy Main Street Christmas 110 S. Main St. Band concert and vocal music by local schools. Tree lighting and parade. 4 to 8 p.m.
December 5
Westminster Ringers Big Cork Vineyard, 4236 Main St., Rohrersville. 5 to 7 p.m.
December 6
Westminster Ringers and its Accelerando Choir Carroll Community College, Scott Theatre, 1601 Washington Rd. Free admission. 4 p.m.
December 18 – 20
A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas” by The Eric Byrd Trio Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Tickets sold online. Email: info@CarrollCounty ArtsCouncil.org. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
January 9
Yves Lambert Trio Quebecois folk music program by Common Ground on the Hill, at Carroll County Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Tickets sold online. 8 to 10 p.m.
