Third-Graders Ring in New Handbell Choir in Lower School
by Robin Yerkes, Lower School Technology Teacher

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Walk through the Third/Fourth Grade Commons in the Lower School during recess on Wednesdays, and you will see a delightful lineup of third-graders in white gloves making a joyful noise.

The children are part of a new handbell choir in the Lower School.

Led by former Lower School music teacher Rita Hughes, Handbell Choir had been a Middle School elective for several years. But after her retirement, interest declined. It was a shame to leave our three-octave set of Malmark English bells mute, so we decided to see if we could revive the handbell choir in the Lower School.

Third-graders were invited to attend practice once a week during one of their recess periods beginning in late October. Giving up recess is hard for some, but we now have a dedicated handbell choir of 18 talented third-graders!

Our original plan was to perform at Christmas. Due to the ice storm, we were unable to perform at the Christmas service. Our group is now preparing a song for the Lenten season.

CCES parent Tracy Breazeale (parent of fourth-grader Taylor and first-grader Bailey), who has experience directing handbells at churches, volunteers her time each week. This allows us to practice individually with certain students, or to rehearse separate parts in a piece of music.

We are very excited to see such interest in handbells at the Lower School and hope to expand it to other grade levels in the future.

Note: Handbell Choir leader Robin Yerkes has been playing handbells since she herself was in elementary school. She directed the Middle School handbell choir for one year before moving it to the Lower School.