A community handbell choir that was established last year in Lake County is getting ready for its first show.
Decibells will perform during a concert that’s slated for 4 p.m. June 3 at Chapel United Methodist Church, located at 2019 Hubbard Road in Madison Township.
Admission to the event is free, but donations will be accepted to help the nonprofit ensemble purchase its own handbells. Decibells currently borrow a set of handbells from Chapel United Methodist Church.
“On the Road Again” is the title of the concert, which will feature songs such as “California Dreamin’,” “It’s a Small World,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Fly me to the Moon.”
“Come hear us as we get ready for the perfect vacation,” Decibells Director Martha DiLorenzo said, adding the concert can be enjoyed by spectators of all ages.
Decibells consist of 14 ringers who play five octaves of bells. The group has grown considerably from the four or five ringers who turned out for the first few practices after DiLorenzo began rehearsals in October.
DiLorenzo got the idea to start Decibells after going to the Handbell Musicians of America Area 5 2022 Spring Festival in Cleveland. The event was titled “Rock, Roll & Ring.”
She attended the festival with fellow members of a handbell choir at a local church. DiLorenzo has been a handbell ringer in that group for about 30 years.
The opening concert of “Rock Roll & Ring” featured The Raleigh Ringers, an internationally acclaimed community handbell choir from Raleigh, North Carolina.
“They played a rock ‘n’ roll medley with Guns N’ Roses and everything else,” DiLorenzo said. “It was phenomenal.”
At that point, DiLorenzo became inspired to start an independent, nonprofit community handbell choir that could bring similar enjoyment to audiences in Lake County.
One challenge that DiLorenzo faced in starting Decibells was to secure a set of handbells for the ensemble. Drawing upon her knowledge of handbell choirs at Lake County churches, DiLorenzo pinpointed Chapel United Methodist Church as a potential supplier.
“Chapel UMC has bells but doesn’t have enough ringers for a choir,” she said. “So I called them and said, ‘Would you consider letting us use your bells?’ And they said ‘Yes.’ That was very kind.”
For now, Decibells hold all of its practice sessions and concerts at the church, since the borrowed handbells can be used only at that location.
However, financial donations received at the June 3 concert will be earmarked to buy a set of used ones. Having its own would allow the ensemble to perform throughout the community, in places such as senior centers, schools and nursing homes.
“We are a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible,” DiLorenzo said.
To help Decibells reach higher levels of excellence, she is looking to add two experienced ringers, especially in the bass bells.
“(Qualified ringers) could email me at decibellslake@gmail.com for information or come to the concert and talk with me afterward,” she said.
