In the spirit of the holiday season, the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble will perform at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 5.

According to The Mercury, three versions of "Sleigh Ride" will be featured on the program, including an accessible version by singer-songwriter Leroy Anderson, a minuet from the 18th century by Mozart, and a movement from Sergei Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije from 1934.

An afternoon filled with delightful Christmas music will be presented to the audience, including the imperious "Santa Baby," "Masters in this Hall," "What Child Is This," and the charming "White Christmas," among others.

Despite the absence of an admission fee, freewill offerings are accepted, and face masks are required for audience members. 

Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble

The Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble was founded in November 2003 as a community ensemble of selected, advanced-level handbell ringers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

As stated on its website, Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) organization and also a member of Handbell Musicians of America. 

Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble offers a broader range of musical styles and moods. Its repertory includes original works, transcriptions of classical literature, and arrangements of other musical genres. 

What are the handbells?

Handbells are a one-of-a-kind instrument in which each bell is tuned to a single note, much like a key on a piano, creating a unique musical experience. 

In contrast to an orchestra or choir, where each artist is responsible for one line of the texture, a handbell ensemble acts as a single instrument. Each musician is accountable for specific notes as they appear in the music as the ensemble plays.

Through the use of handbells, the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble aspires to higher levels of musical excellence while also exploring the incorporation of other instruments in order to widen the exposure of handbells to the performing arts community as a whole.

Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble promotes the art and education of handbell ringing through seminars, conferences, and outreach initiatives in the community.

With its musical performances, the ensemble hopes to educate and inspire public appreciation and interest in handbells, as well as to expand the use of handbells in music education.

Occasionally, the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble performs at other locations in the greater Philadelphia region. Among the venues where they perform are community concerts, religious worship services, festivals, and special events.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church

As a congregation dedicated to sharing God's love throughout the world, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church is an intergenerational congregation dedicated to spreading the love through word and deed in their community.

As members of their community, they play a crucial role in the revitalization and renewal of their city. They also serve as leaders and volunteers in a variety of social service organizations, service clubs, Scout troops, and sports leagues, and they are generous in their financial support to those who are less fortunate.

The website also stated that the church sponsors Selian Lutheran Hospital and Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre in Tanzania, and they provide full scholarships for young women at Lutheran Secondary School.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church is part of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.