JuBellation Bell Choir

of St. John’s Lutheran Church

December 8, 2024

2pm | Doors opens at 1pm

The JuBellation Bell Choir returns to Volland for the fourth year for a Holiday Concert – and rumor has it that a bagpiper will join the bells for this year’s performance!

We asked Kathy Schultz, director, to tell us a bit about the bell choir, and here are her comments –

…we have some ringers who started playing with St. John just over 20 years ago and some who started within the past couple of years. Some of our ringers came with years of ringing in other church choirs – from Lake Wabaunsee to Manhattan. We are all connected to Alma either because we live here or nearby, or we go to church here, but we come together especially because we love playing bells.

Some ringers have musical backgrounds and some have learned as they’ve played. Some play two notes with the sharps and flats and some play multiples – in each hand. Some play the “littles” and some do the “heavy lifting” of the BIG bass bells.

We’ve learned many techniques, and we play handchimes to create different effects and moods. We like audience participation, especially using our God-given musical instrument – the human voice. The audience will have an opportunity to raise their voices in some beloved carols.

We are NOT professional ringers (no errors, right?) but we are real in our ringing. We are people coming together who enjoy sharing our love of God and music, and Christmas is a beautiful time to ring out! 

If you still have some shopping to do, check out our books, note cards from Susan Rose and Mark Feiden, Flint Hills-themed Christmas cards, signed copies of Posts of a Mid-Century Kidby Ann Anderson – and fun stickers featuring the new M.T. Liggett sculptures (at Volland).