The Strand Theatre will welcome The Raleigh Ringers to the stage at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16.
The Raleigh Ringers is an internationally acclaimed concert handbell choir based in Raleigh, N.C. Since its founding in 1990, The Raleigh Ringers has been dazzling audiences with unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music, including famous rock ‘n’ roll tunes arranged just for handbells.
Under the direction of David M. Harris, The Raleigh Ringers has performed in 39 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, in several cities in France, in Canada, live on the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show” radio show and on the “Hour of Power” at the Crystal Cathedral in California.
In addition to six albums on compact disc, The Raleigh Ringers has released two full holiday concert videos available on DVD and Blu-ray. Two one-hour concert specials were created from the first DVD and broadcast on over 250 American Public Television stations in 45 states. A new one-hour holiday concert special from the second DVD aired over 400 times in 38 states in its first year of national distribution.
The Raleigh Ringers sponsors two annual handbell festivals — one geared for youth and one for adults — a professional performance event (Virtuoso), workshops, classes and reading sessions in Raleigh throughout the year.
The Raleigh Ringers promotes the art of handbell ringing by:
- Presenting entertaining performances of advanced handbell music to the widest possible audience;
- Commissioning composers to create works for advanced handbell choirs;
- Supporting and encouraging fellow handbell musicians;
- Offering educational opportunities through classes and event sponsorship.
The Raleigh Ringers performs on one of the most extensive collections of bells and bell-like instruments owned by any handbell ensemble in the world. The Raleigh Ringers has made a significant impact on the world’s handbell music repertoire by commissioning more than 125 compositions and arrangements for handbells.
In 2007, The Raleigh Ringers was honored to be selected as one of six recipients of the City of Raleigh’s “Medal of Arts” award. This award is bestowed each year to groups or individuals from Raleigh that have made exemplary contributions to the arts community.
The Raleigh Ringers supports itself through performance fees and merchandise sales, including its recordings and tie-dyed gloves. Since 1995, over 80,000 of The Raleigh Ringers’ recordings have been sold. The group’s patrons, the Friends of The Raleigh Ringers, have been instrumental since 1995 in donating funds to help the group purchase equipment and a 15-passenger van. A capital campaign helped the group to purchase a 20-foot box truck that is used to haul equipment, stage sets and instruments, and the “Opening New Doors” capital campaign raised funds to pay for the purchase of the group’s own building for rehearsal and storage.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com, Call Jana Jarrett for group ticket rates 304-639-7967. The Strand Theatre is located at 811 Fifth St., Moundsville.
