"I would say that probably the most unique place that the SFSU Handbell Choir played were the times when we played at the San Francisco Zoo.  One time we played outdoors in front of the lemur cages.  It was so windy that we had to turn a human being into a music stand as our conductor's music stand kept falling down!  And we were accompanied by the lemurs screeching away in the background!"

My own community ensemble, Bay Bells, has often performed at the Morgan Hill tree lighting in past years. We would all pile into a flatbed trailer designed to look like an over-sized Radio Flyer wagon sponsored by the local bookstore. The challenge was to keep ourselves and our music stands remaining standing, while ringing carols, as the trailer was pulled around corners and over speed bumps in the holiday parade. Eventually we grew wiser and added chairs to the setup. We're still working out a reliable system for remembering new batteries for the stand lights every year. 

'Tis the season of holiday concerts and we all want a large audience to come hear us play. Our concert calendar is only as good as you make it, so post your events there, and check it out for other events to attend. I'll confess I'm not the greatest at doing it myself, but before the weekend is out, my goal is to get my own concerts up there too. If I can do it, so can you!

May your holidays be filled with family, friends, and good cheer!

Friday and Saturday, April 14, 2018
with Ellie Hodder