What started as a method of training to ring the tower bells in England has turned into an Okanagan Christmas tradition.

Featuring the Okanagan Handbell Chorus, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Ringing in the Season in Vernon Dec. 21, 琉璃神社 Dec. 22 and Penticton Dec. 23.

鈥淧eople who were practicing to ring the tower bells practiced the pattern on handbells and it spread like wildfire,鈥� said Rosemary Thomson, OSO music director.

And it鈥檚 a fire that spread to the , past president of the B.C. Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

鈥淪he put together a group of the best handbell ringers from across the Province,鈥� Thomson said.

The show features 13 ringers covering five octaves, with more than 40 bells, that meshes with the sounds of the orchestra.

鈥淭hey have an absolutely beautiful, magical sound. I walked into the room where they were practicing and it just blew me away 鈥� it really transports you,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淭he whole thing about orchestra is that it鈥檚 this big, colourful palette of acoustic sounds. You get the rush of power without being plugged in, and the handbells have such a power. Watching them ring, it鈥檚 very virtuosic. It surrounds you in such a physical way.鈥�

Leading the handbells chorus is Susan Carscadden-Mifsud, artistic director of the Okanagan Handbell Chorus. And, as Carscadden-Mifsud takes charge, Thomson will pick up a bell and join the chorus.

鈥淚magine that you鈥檙e one of 13 people sitting on a piano bench and you are part of this huge keyboard,鈥� Thomson said, noting that each person on the figurative piano is designated to only a key or two. 鈥淚t requires heavy concentration.鈥�

That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 like to perform in a handbell chorus, she said.

And with performers living across the valley, the chorus has only two days to practice as a unit prior to the performance. As a result, ringers study and rehearse individually and the week of performance can be stressful. But, Thomson said, the result is wondrous.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a beautiful arrangement,鈥� Thomson said of combining handbells with the orchestra.

Ringing alongside the orchestra, the group will perform old English carols, well-known tracks like We Three Kings and, of course, Carol of the Bells.

Also featured at the Ringing in the Season performance is West 琉璃神社鈥檚 Anthony Lau on the classical harmonica.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a beautiful sound,鈥� Thomson said of Lau鈥檚 handling of the harmonica. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the harmonica you hear around the campfire. It鈥檚 really wonderful.鈥�

Of note is the performance of O Holy Night overlaid with Gesu bambino, featuring the bells, orchestra and harmonica.

鈥淲e鈥檒l also have a few sing-alongs. It鈥檚 going to be a really mixed program,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a collection of some beautiful Christmas music and really puts everyone in the (holiday) spirit.鈥�

Performer and composer Bruce Henczel of the Lower Mainland will also appear on stage with the orchestra.

鈥淗e was really taken by the sound of the bells, so he started writing music for them,鈥� Thomson said.

Henczel was a guest artist with the chorus and represented Canada for the 2016 International Handbell Symposium with an original composition.

With bells and the harmonica adding to the powerful and renowned orchestra, Ringing in the Season is a musical force that has carved its way into Okanagan tradition.

鈥淚t鈥檚 quite lovely because most Christmas parties are done and we find that people are coming with their families,鈥� Thomson said of choosing to hold the performance the weekend before Christmas.

鈥淚t just has a really beautiful feel to it. I just love this show.鈥�

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Ringing in the Season with guest artists Okanagan Handbell Chorus and Anthony Lau on harmonica Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre and 2 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Cleland Community Theatre in Penticton. Tickets are available for $56.25 adult, $49 senior, $26.25 student and child and $25 for the first two rows. Tickets are available through the OSO, .

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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