NIOBRARA COUNTY - Heavenly sounds will delight the ears of Niobrara County residents on November 17 when the WyoRingers perform holiday favorites at the Manville Community Alliance Church.
The concert will start at 2 p.m., with refreshments to follow. Donations will also be taken for the group. Attendees can expect to hear a lively collection of Christmas pieces and well-known religious compositions that are guaranteed to put listeners in the holiday spirit. WyoRinger's director, Joyce Willeke, says that the sound of handbells adds something special to the season.
"Handbells are a very unique genre," Willeke told the Herald. "If you have them in your community, then that's wonderful."
While this will be the first time Niobrara County residents see the WyoRingers in action, surrounding communities are very familiar with the handbell choir. Goshen County residents first experienced the WyoRingers at First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church. More recently, the group played a concert in La Grange. According to Willeke, the La Grange performance helped the WyoRingers to prep for more holiday concerts.
"It was wonderful," said Willeke. "It makes your playing better. It makes your Christmas music better."
Willeke has been director of the WyoRingers since 1998. The seasoned musician knew very little about the handbells when she started with the group. When she was first asked to join, Willeke was working with a vocal choir at the Methodist Church in Torrington. Willeke made the leap from vocals to handbells by attending conferences, clinics, and conventions, imbibing knowledge of the instrument along the way.
"I learned everything in the world that I could about handbells," said WIlleke. "If you're taught right to begin with, then it's not a hard instrument to learn."
Now, 26 years later, WyoRIngers and Willeke are a musical tour de force that promises a bright start to Niobrara County's Christmas season. Doors will open at the Manville Community Alliance Church shortly before the concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 17. Interested people can find out more by calling the church at 334-9909.
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NIOBRARA COUNTY - Heavenly sounds will delight the ears of Niobrara County residents on November 17 when the WyoRingers perform holiday favorites at the Manville Community Alliance Church.
The concert will start at 2 p.m., with refreshments to follow. Donations will also be taken for the group. Attendees can expect to hear a lively collection of Christmas pieces and well-known religious compositions that are guaranteed to put listeners in the holiday spirit. WyoRinger's director, Joyce Willeke, says that the sound of handbells adds something special to the season.
"Handbells are a very unique genre," Willeke told the Herald. "If you have them in your community, then that's wonderful."
While this will be the first time Niobrara County residents see the WyoRingers in action, surrounding communities are very familiar with the handbell choir. Goshen County residents first experienced the WyoRingers at First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church. More recently, the group played a concert in La Grange. According to Willeke, the La Grange performance helped the WyoRingers to prep for more holiday concerts.
"It was wonderful," said Willeke. "It makes your playing better. It makes your Christmas music better."
Willeke has been director of the WyoRingers since 1998. The seasoned musician knew very little about the handbells when she started with the group. When she was first asked to join, Willeke was working with a vocal choir at the Methodist Church in Torrington. Willeke made the leap from vocals to handbells by attending conferences, clinics, and conventions, imbibing knowledge of the instrument along the way.
"I learned everything in the world that I could about handbells," said WIlleke. "If you're taught right to begin with, then it's not a hard instrument to learn."
Now, 26 years later, WyoRIngers and Willeke are a musical tour de force that promises a bright start to Niobrara County's Christmas season. Doors will open at the Manville Community Alliance Church shortly before the concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 17. Interested people can find out more by calling the church at 334-9909.
