Handbell Choir

The Handbell Choir of Holy Trinity Church in Laurel will participate in a combined handbell choir concert with Trinity Lutheran Church, Sunday, June 2, at 6 p.m., at 11200 Old Georgetown Road, in North Bethesda. A freewill offering will be taken, and a reception will follow the concert. For information, contact the church at htlc.laurel@verizon.net .

The Handbell Choir of Holy Trinity Church in Laurel will participate in a combined handbell choir concert with Trinity Lutheran Church, Sunday, June 2, at 6 p.m., at 11200 Old Georgetown Road, in North Bethesda. A freewill offering will be taken, and a reception will follow the concert. For information, contact the church at htlc.laurel@verizon.net .

Dan Hoffner thinks that children make the best musicians, at least when it comes to handbells. While adults who play bells might feel inhibited or awkward, the fifth graders that Hoffner directs enjoy swinging their arms loosely as they ring their bells. Hoffner, longtime vocal music teacher at Lisbon Elementary, has directed a handbell choir at the Woodbine school since 1993. "It's amazing what 10-year-olds can do. These kids are playing pieces that adults have trouble with," he said.

Elizabeth S. Day, a church musician and retired Baltimore County public school teacher, died March 30 at Johns Hopkins Hospital of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. The Turners Station resident was 91. Born Elizabeth Scott in Pleasantville, N.J., she was a 1939 graduate of Pleasantville High School. She learned music as a child and played with the United Service Organization entertaining military personnel during World War II. After moving to Baltimore in the early 1950s, she earned a degree in music theory at what is now Morgan State University.

From the silvery "ping" of the smallest to the deep-throated "bong" of the largest, the polished bronze bells blended, note by note, into Faure's flowing anthem "Pie Jesu."The ringers' inexperience produced an occasional clinker, but "they'll be ready by the end of the month," pledged Lydia Bobes, who is melding a handful of veterans with a group of tyros to revive the St. Anthony's Church Handbell Choir in Gardenville.The gloved bell-ringers stand behind a long table covered with 3-inch-thick foam padding.

It was love at first sound when Tom Neuenschwander heard handbells ringing at a music convention 25 years ago.Since then, he has started handbell choirs around the county, in churches, senior centers and schools -- teaching students from ages 8 to 97.Neuenschwander spends three days a week after school at Brooklyn Park Elementary School -- where he has been the music teacher for 14 years -- teaching and rehearsing with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders....

For the past six years, in June just before school closes, Larry Henning has taken the Carrolltowne Elementary School fifth-grade handbell choir to Washington to play for people waiting to tour the White House."

AFTER A long spell without a music director, United Methodist Church of Savage found the right musician in November. Aline Otten's journey to our town has been an eventful one. An Indiana native, Otten decided on her career while in high school. "From the time I was small, I wanted to play music," she said. "Most career musicians make that decision early. In high school, I was debating between music and medicine. I chose music." After graduating from Indiana University with an advanced degree in organ performance and sacred music, she held teaching positions with churches in Indiana and Louisiana.

Student: Sarah Brown, 16 School: Howard High Special achievement: Sarah was chosen to participate in a Congressional Youth Leadership Conference during which students learn about how government works through a mock Congress and other exercises. Why she cares about government: "I thought it would be interesting to know exactly what they do in Congress and how they decide on laws," she said. Sarah said that she also thought the conference would help her learn "how to become a lead- er."

From the silvery "ping" of the smallest to the deep-throated "bong" of the largest, the polished bronze bells blended, note by note, into Faure's flowing anthem "Pie Jesu."The ringers' inexperience produced an occasional clinker, but "they'll be ready by the end of the month," pledged Lydia Bobes, who is melding a handful of veterans with a group of tyros to revive the St. Anthony's Church Handbell Choir in Gardenville.The gloved bell-ringers stand behind a long table covered with 3-inch-thick foam padding.

Dan Hoffner thinks that children make the best musicians, at least when it comes to handbells. While adults who play bells might feel inhibited or awkward, the fifth graders that Hoffner directs enjoy swinging their arms loosely as they ring their bells. Hoffner, longtime vocal music teacher at Lisbon Elementary, has directed a handbell choir at the Woodbine school since 1993. "It's amazing what 10-year-olds can do. These kids are playing pieces that adults have trouble with," he said.

Student: Sarah Brown, 16 School: Howard High Special achievement: Sarah was chosen to participate in a Congressional Youth Leadership Conference during which students learn about how government works through a mock Congress and other exercises. Why she cares about government: "I thought it would be interesting to know exactly what they do in Congress and how they decide on laws," she said. Sarah said that she also thought the conference would help her learn "how to become a lead- er."

In Luke 1:37, the Bible states "For with God, nothing shall be impossible." At Emmanuel Episcopal Church on North Main Street in the heart of Bel Air, the Scripture is guiding the congregation as it spreads the Gospel. Heeding God's word, said the Rev. Paul H. Moser, has resulted in a magnificent blessing for the church: A $250,000 restoration of four buildings at the church's 2-acre site. "All of the buildings are in need, and we're halfway [to completion]," said Moser, who has served as rector of Emmanuel for 25 years.

AFTER A long spell without a music director, United Methodist Church of Savage found the right musician in November. Aline Otten's journey to our town has been an eventful one. An Indiana native, Otten decided on her career while in high school. "From the time I was small, I wanted to play music," she said. "Most career musicians make that decision early. In high school, I was debating between music and medicine. I chose music." After graduating from Indiana University with an advanced degree in organ performance and sacred music, she held teaching positions with churches in Indiana and Louisiana.

It was love at first sound when Tom Neuenschwander heard handbells ringing at a music convention 25 years ago.Since then, he has started handbell choirs around the county, in churches, senior centers and schools -- teaching students from ages 8 to 97.Neuenschwander spends three days a week after school at Brooklyn Park Elementary School -- where he has been the music teacher for 14 years -- teaching and rehearsing with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders....

On the morning after, Robert Twynham still reverberates from the excitement of hearing the first brass rehearsal of his "meditations" on the Te Deum, the medieval hymn of praise sung for a millennium in Christian churches."

It may not be as prestigious as the White House, but the State House has better acoustics for bell ringers.A last-minute official function for 1,400 at the presidential mansion forced the abrupt change of venue for the Carrolltowne Elementary Handbell Choir, which had been scheduled to perform Wednesday on the White House lawn.To make up for the loss of their much-anticipated performance, a parent and a state delegate hastily organized an Annapolis trip as a consolation prize for 23 fifth-grade students.

It may not be as prestigious as the White House, but the State House has better acoustics for bell ringers.A last-minute official function for 1,400 at the presidential mansion forced the abrupt change of venue for the Carrolltowne Elementary Handbell Choir, which had been scheduled to perform Wednesday on the White House lawn.To make up for the loss of their much-anticipated performance, a parent and a state delegate hastily organized an Annapolis trip as a consolation prize for 23 fifth-grade students.

It may not be as prestigious as the White House, but the State House has better acoustics for bell ringers.A last-minute official function for 1,400 at the presidential mansion forced the abrupt change of venue for the Carrolltowne Elementary Handbell Choir, which had been scheduled to perform Wednesday on the White House lawn.To make up for the loss of their much-anticipated performance, a parent and a state delegate hastily organized an Annapolis trip as a consolation prize for 23 fifth-grade students.

It may not be as prestigious as the White House, but the State House has better acoustics for bell ringers.A last-minute official function for 1,400 at the presidential mansion forced the abrupt change of venue for the Carrolltowne Elementary Handbell Choir, which had been scheduled to perform Wednesday on the White House lawn.To make up for the loss of their much-anticipated performance, a parent and a state delegate hastily organized an Annapolis trip as a consolation prize for 23 fifth-grade students.