A remarkable handbell group, the Blue Ridge Ringers, performs at area churches this month.

by Jonathan Rich . photo by Matt Rose

When the 14 members of the Blue Ridge Ringers get together, it is a festival for almost all of the senses.

Clad in identical blue-hued garments and wearing matching black gloves, these Western North Carolina women shake and strike their shiny instruments with such grace and careful control that all five octaves of Malmark handbells seem to both soothe and excite the group’s listeners.

Connie Engle of Hendersonville, who has been ringing handbells for 30 years and helped founded the Blue Ridge Ringers in 1995, says bringing this music to the masses is one way she gives back to the community. “Most of our concerts have no admission charge, and when we perform, every audience has a very large portion of people who have never seen or heard handbell music,” Engle says of the Ringers’ benefit concerts for the Flat Rock Playhouse, local schools and churches.

The musicians, who vary in age from their late 20s to early 80s, practice songs throughout the year, but their special sound is in high demand during the holidays. “We do this all for the love of the music,” explains Nancy Eggers of Fletcher. “The money we make would not pay a professional musician enough to even live in poverty. Watching the joy on people’s faces and having wonderful compliments is our ‘payment.’”

The group is composed completely of female bell ringers, but director Robert Currier counts out the beats during songs to make sure every note is pitch perfect.

“I love working with a director such as ours, who works hard at bringing out the musicianship in each of us,” says Rose Mary Charmley of Brevard. “Rehearsal on Monday afternoon is my time to forget responsibilities at home and just immerse myself in the challenge and fun of playing handbells.”

See the Blue Ridge Ringers this month: December 11 at 4pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Brevard. December 13 at 2pm at Henderson County Public Library in Hendersonville. December 14 at noon at Transylvania County Public Library in Brevard. December 19 at 4pm at Biltmore United Methodist Church in Asheville.

For more info, go to www.blueridgeringers.tripod.com.