I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play! Be of good cheer gentle listeners because THE UTAH VALLEY HANDBELL RINGERS are here. And be of even “gooder” cheer because pianist, composer, arranger, extraordinaire DAVID TOLK is in studio too. I couldn’t be more thrilled. 

There is no sound that invokes the season of Christmas (my absolute favorite season by the way) like the sound of a choir playing English handbells.

THE UTAH VALLEY HANDBELL RINGERS was founded in 1993 by KAREN-ESKEW-WYLLIE, who has been ringing bells and devoted to handbell music for as long as she can remember. She owns the bells, selects the music, trains the ringers and books the concerts. And just in case one of her ringers runs into serious trouble, KAREN is also a surgical nurse. There are 56 bells in her collection, each tuned to a single note and each cast in bronze or aluminum. The ensemble also plays 6 octaves of chimes.

THE UTAH VALLEY HANDBELL RINGERS have performed in a variety of stunning sacred venues, including: the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City and the Provo Tabernacle. They’ve performed at Disneyland, the Con Brio Music Festival, the SCERA Center for the Arts, and have rung their bells more than once while marching in parades—an impressive feat. THE UTAH VALLEY HANDBELL RINGERS have collaborated with the Utah Baroque Ensemble and Nebo Chorale and Orchestra and also frequently perform to packed crowds at civic and community centers (libraries, schools, hospitals and art museums)—in many instances providing the concerts free of charge.

Also, DAVID TOLK is our pianist this hour. He’s released 8 CDs, two of which are Christmas albums and feature the pieces that we’re hearing today. One of his albums “David Tolk Christmas” reached #8 on Billboard’s New Age Chart in 2010. And DAVID also regularly performs on-stage in the “Big Parade” with his good friend singer/songwriter Peter Breinholt.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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