‘It's not your grandma's bell choir anymore’: Bow River handbell choirs stretch musical boundaries

Calgary's only community handbell choir society has been performing holiday classics throughout the Christmas season, but Bow River Handbell Musicians Society (BRHMS) co-director Jim Winslett says handbells aren't just a seasonal instrument.

Calgary's only community handbell choir society has been performing holiday classics throughout the Christmas season, but  Bow River Handbell Musicians Society (BRHMS) co-director Jim Winslett  says handbells  aren't just  a seasonal instrument.

“We love to play music that you would never have expected to hear on handbells. We're doing Funkytown, we're doing movie and TV music. We've got Bohemian Rhapsody coming up in the future,” said Winslett.

“We're playing just a little bit of everything.”

BRHMS operates four separate handbell choirs ranging from beginners to advanced musicians. Society founder and director Annie Hergott says while anyone can pick up the bells and start playing, at the higher levels it can be a challenge.

“They're unique, and they're always in tune. So, they're an instrument that right away, a beginner can start with. And they it sounds good right away. So it's really satisfying for beginner.” Said Hergott.

“At the most advanced level, it's very hard. To keep the notes in order and to play them correctly, then you're making thousands and thousands of decisions when you're playing handbells. And I think that's the magic of it. And why so many accomplished musicians just get thrilled with playing bells.

"It's a real challenge.”