Return to Westminster Choir of the Arts Homepage Directions | Campus Safety | Calendars | Directory | Libraries | Web Mail
 
Prospective StudentsCurrent StudentsAlumniCommunity PartnersGive to WestminsterFaculty & Staff
About Westminster School of Fine & Performing ArtsAcademicsStudent LifeWestminsters FacultyAdmissionsContinuing EducationWestminster ConservatoryNews & Events
Font Size:
Default  |  Small  |  Medium  |  Large

Westminster Concert Bell Choir

Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

The 14-member Westminster Concert Bell Choir is composed of undergraduate and graduate students from both of Rider University's campuses.

Hailed for its virtuosity, the Westminster Concert Bell Choir uses the largest range of handbells in the world – 8 octaves, from C1 to C9. Many of the bells are made of bronze and range in weight from four ounces to 11 pounds; the Choir also uses the large “Basso Profundo” aluminum-cast bells that are a new phenomenon in handbell ringing. The Choir supplements their handbell set with a six-octave set of Malmark Choirchime® instruments from C2 to C8 – the widest range in existence.

The Westminster Concert Bell Choir has appeared on Public Television’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and several holiday broadcasts of the “Today” show, including one in which the ensemble was joined by NBC television personalities Katie Couric and Willard Scott. It has also been featured on New Jersey Network's "State of the Arts" program.  The ensemble's holiday performances have been heard annually on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” and it is included on NPR’s Christmas Around The Country II recording. The choir made its Carnegie Hall debut in December 2000.

Previous seasons have included joining Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charlotte Church and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a critically acclaimed 15-city tour entitled “A Royal Christmas.” The Choir has made seven recordings: Westminster Concert Bell Choir, Christmas Bells,Westminster Rings!, Praise and Adoration and Christmas at Westminster: The Westminster Concert Bell Choir, Westminster Concert Bell Choir: By Request,and and its newest CD Westminster Concert Bell Choir - 30th Anniversary Collection, which are available at http://www.westminsterchoircollege.org/.


Performance

Performer(s) Date(s)/Location(s)

Christmas of the Americas

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Admission: $20 adults and $15 students/seniors; Box office: 609-921-2663

Saturday, December 6, 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 4 p.m.

Bristol Chapel


Spring Concert

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Admission: $20 adults and $15 students/seniors; Box office: 609-921-2663

Sunday, April 19, 4 p.m.

Bristol Chapel


Westminster Concert Bell Choir in Concert - Ringwood, NJ

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Sunday, April 26   7 p.m.

Community Presbyterian Church
145 Carletondale Rd.
Ringwood, NJ
973-962-7431


National Tour - Vacaville, CA

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Monday, May 18   7:30 p.m.

Community Presbyterian Church
425 Hemlock Street
Vacaville, CA
707-448-5055


National Tour - Cupertino, CA

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Tuesday, May 19   7 p.m.

Valley Church
10885 No. Stelling Road
Cupertino, CA
408 739-4642
www.valleychurch.org


National Tour - Monterey, CA

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Wednesday, May 20   7 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church
501 El Dorado Street
Monterey, CA
831-373-3031


National Tour - Glendale, CA

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, conductor

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Thursday, May 21   7 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Glendale
134 N. Kenwood Street
Glendale, CA
818-243-2105
www.glendalemethodist.org


National Tour - Phoenix, AZ

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Sunday, May 24   4 p.m.

Orangewood Presbyterian Church
7321 N. Tenth Street
Phoenix, AZ
602-944-1508


National Tour - Las Vegas, NV

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Wednesday, May 27   7 p.m.

Mountain View Presbyterian Church
8601 Del Webb Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV
702-341-7800
www.mtvwpresbchlv.org


National Tour - Greenwood Village, CO

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Friday, May 29   7:30 p.m.

St. Peter Lutheran Church
9300 E. Belleview Avenue
Greenwood Village, CO
303-770-9300
www.stplc.org


National Tour - Kansas City, MO

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Sunday, May 31   4 p.m.

St. Andrew Episcopal Church
6401 Wornall Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64113
816-523-1602
www.standrewkc.org


National Tour - St. Louis, MO

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
$15 & $10

Monday, June 1   8 p.m.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
4431 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
314-533-7662.
www.CathedralConcerts.org


 


National Tour - Dayton, OH

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Wednesday, June 3   7:30 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church
125 N. Wilkinson Street
Dayton, OH
937-223-7285
www.westminsterdayton.org


National Tour - Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Thursday, June 4   7 p.m.

First United Methodist Church
245 Portage Trail
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
330-923-5241
www.firstchurchcf.com


National Tour - Hanover, PA

Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Kathleen Ebling-Thorne, director

Ticket Info:
Free Will Offering

Friday, June 5   7:30 p.m.

St. Mark Lutheran Church
129 Charles Street
Hanover, PA
717-637-8904
www.stmarkhanover.org