HAND BELL CHOIR RINGS IN CHEER THROUGHOUT VALLEY AREA.Byline: Nancy Hewitt Daily News Staff Writer The 25 robed musicians anxiously grip the dark wooden handles of their brass bells, watching for the cues that will signal them to ring their clappers clap·per n. 1. One who applauds. 2. The tongue of a bell. 3. Slang The tongue of a garrulous person. 4. and transform an otherwise random clang into a recognizable song. It's not an easy task, and one of the musicians occasionally slips up. But the joy they experience in sharing this small gift of music is worth the seemingly endless hours spent rehearsing, traveling and setting up and maintaining equipment. Affiliated with Activities for Retarded Children in North Hollywood, the ARC English Hand Bell Choir is composed of extraordinary and dedicated musicians. They perform for free, giving more than five dozen shows a year throughout the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and greater Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``People see them take out the bells and the robes. They hear this wonderful music,'' said Dixie Henrikson, executive director of ARC. ``And the best thing the program does is show that mentally retarded Noun 1. mentally retarded - people collectively who are mentally retarded; "he started a school for the retarded" developmentally challenged, retarded or developmentally disabled people - through colors and codes - can be musicians, too.'' Choir members don't read music the traditional way. Instead, they rely on color-coded scores that are inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. on long oilcloths and rolled over a podium podium In architecture, a pedestal on a large scale. It may be any of various elements that form the base of a structure, such as the platform forming the floor and substructure of a Classical temple, a low wall supporting columns, or the structurally or decoratively placed in front of the group. Despite the name of the nonprofit agency, choir members range in age from 18 to 40-plus. Many of them have played in the choir since its inception almost 25 years ago. But to Henrikson, her charges are still her ``kids.'' And being a member of the choir means a lot to every one of them. Anita Marie Burger said her favorite part of the choir is ``playing in shopping malls,'' while Tom Duby ``likes meeting celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] , Arsenio Hall and the mayor.'' Tim Sathre is a bit more outgoing when he performs. ``I get to go into the public and meet people and tell them bad jokes,'' he said. After performing before smaller groups, the choir members often invite the audience to try playing the bells. ``It gives them a real warm, direct contact with our people,'' Henrikson said. Therein lies one of the expenses for the group. Occasionally, a novice or even a choir member will damage or drop one of the bells, which cost $250 to replace. Activities for Retarded Children is among the nonprofit agencies that the Daily News is profiling for its annual Season of Sharing project, a fund-raising campaign Noun 1. fund-raising campaign - a campaign to raise money for some cause fund-raising drive, fund-raising effort crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported that benefits area charities. Since its inception in 1990, Season of Sharing has raised about $217,000 for local charities, plus thousands more in donated goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. . Readers interested in helping ARC can clip the accompanying coupon and send a donation directly to the organization for use during the holidays and throughout the year. The Daily News receives none of the money. ARC is seeking donations to offset some of the costs of the bell choir, and also is raising money to buy a 15-passenger van to transport the musicians and their equipment on their many performances. ``When we perform for United Way, we feel we are helping raise money for programs they support. It gives us a feeling of giving,'' Henrikson said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: The ARC English Hand Bell Choir, which performs about 60 shows a year, is challenged in its equipment and transportation funding. John McCoy/Daily News |
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