The annual holiday concert offered by the Harbor Bells handbell choir has become something of a tradition for Sag Harbor audiences. For many years, the choir, which was founded by the aptly named Valarie Bell in 1993, was based at the Old Whalers’ Church in Sag Harbor where the group performed and practiced.
But a few years ago, Valarie decided to make the Harbor Bells a community choir. With the new mission came a new task — to find a place the choir could call home. For the last couple years, the choir borrowed bells from the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church and practiced and performed at the Sag Harbor Methodist Church on Madison Street. But when the building was sold to a private buyer, the congregation moved and the choir went on a venue hunt again.
Without the support of a church, Valarie admits it has been more difficult to pull things together. Members have had to raise money to buy sheet music and put toward a set of handbells of their own. But in the end, Valarie feels the benefits of being a community choir will outweigh the struggles.
“As a community choir, we can play anywhere we want — including other churches,” explains Bell. “We don’t have to play only religious music — we are now open to everything. I’m hoping next year we can do a concert with Broadway and rock songs.”
This fall, the choir found a new home at Sag Harbor’s Pierson High School/Middle School. It was middle school teacher and bell ringer Melissa Luppi who struck upon the idea of making the school home to the choir. Harbor Bells now meets in Luppi’s classroom for rehearsals, and this Sunday, the choir will perform at Pierson auditorium at 5 p.m.Â
“Now that we’re a community choir, we’re playing at a community spot,” notes Valarie who adds that a number of years ago, the Sag Harbor Elementary School bought a set of chimes, which are played like handbells. Though the chimes haven’t been used recently, Valarie thinks it may be time to bring them out and teach the students to play.Â
The choir recently reached another milestone in September by placing an order for three octaves of handbells from the Schulmerich company in Pennsylvania. The bells, which will be financed, are expected to arrive by mid-January. In the meantime, Schulmerich has sent the choir a set of bells on loan for this season’s holiday concerts.
“We have no financial backing now, but we can stand on our own two feet and move forward,” says Valarie. “It was so scary when we left the church. But it’s been like such a close family for so long. I think it’s coming around.”
After a concert last weekend at the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church in which they shared the bill with the choir there, Valarie is excited to be presenting the first concert on the Pierson Stage.
“Pierson auditorium is fantastic,” says Valarie. “It’s centrally located and easy to park. Plus it’s wheelchair accessible.”
“Also, they’re not going to sell the school and they’re not going to close it down,” she adds.
Tonight, Thursday, December 11, the Harbor Bells perform at the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor at 7 p.m. On Sunday, December 14, the choir debuts on the stage of the Pierson School auditorium at 5 p.m. For more information or to make a donation to the choir, call Valarie at 725-2948.
Pictured above are the Harbor Bells: Victoria Van Frank, Karen Shafonda, Christina Zaykowski, Debbie Thayer, Debbie Jacobs, Tracy Kohnken, Melissa Luppi, Becky Steyert, Joy Sieger and David Cummings. In front is director Valarie Bell.
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