Handbell Choir : The bell choir currently rings five-octaves of bells and four and a half octaves of hand chimes. We can be heard on major feast days, at special events, and occasionally at weekend liturgy throughout the year. We have recently begun ringing at events off-site from St. Noel. If you are interested in having the St. Noel Handbell Choir ring at your function, please click “contact us” and let us know.

Focus on Elke White

Elke White (above right) has been at St. Noel officially since 2000, but had spent about 8 years prior to that attending Mass at St. Noel sporadically, always hiding in the back row. "I loved St. Noel parish from the first, so I have absolutely no idea why I did that.  Happily, something in me changed one day, and I officially registered in the parish.  I immediately began to look for a ministry to call home and it didn't take me long to settle into the music ministry, first as a member of the choir, then becoming a member of the chamber singers, and eventually helping out at the piano as needed."

Her first experience with handbells was in the spring of 2002 when music director Marc Weagraff was in need of another bell ringer at a graveside funeral service.  "He handed me two bells and told me what to do.  I distinctly remember not being able to get a sound out of the bells despite several attempts!  When I eventually managed to get the bells to ring I immediately fell in love with the sound, and I also saw great potential for these instruments."

She sees this as a way to open up the music ministry to more individuals, particularly people who feel called to the ministry, but perhaps not to singing with the choir.

"I began to attend every workshop and seminar that I could, and spent many hours at the church practicing new handbell skills that I learned.  Marc and others shared my enthusiasm, and soon our little two octave bell choir began to grow and grow.  We currently ring nearly five octaves of handbells and four and a half octaves of handchimes, tubular aluminum instruments that produce a very pure, mellow tone."

"Our bell choir numbers 13 ringers, and this year we have even expanded the program to include a teen bell choir."

When asked what changes she sees in herself, she says, "Being a part of a handbell choir gives one a very special awareness of one's place.  What I mean to say, is that there are no heroics in handbells, no single person that carries the whole ensemble.  Every ringer is as important as the next ringer, and beautiful music only happens when the whole ensemble works together.  Learning to make music with the wonderful friends I have made in the bell choir has been a real joy to me, and I hope to be a part of this ministry for many years to come."

We celebrate Elke White and her gifts and thank her for sharing them with our community. Want to learn more about the Handbell Choir or any other ministry? Call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

If you have questions concerning any information contained on the Saint Noel Parish Web site, contact us. Our staff will answer your questions or forward you to the appropriate individual or group.

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