RING PITTSBURGH, SOUTHWESTERN PA’S COMMUNITY HANDBELL CHOIR,
BRINGS A UNIQUE ART FORM TO AREA COMMUNITIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
R
ing Pittsburgh is an auditioned community of
musicians skilled in the art of handbell ringing. The
unique ensemble takes a musical art form found
mainly in church and worship settings and translates
it to a professional concert setting. The group’s seasoned
ringers educate and entertain audiences across southwestern
Pennsylvania, and seek to advance the knowledge and awareness
of the art of handbell ringing.
“Ring Pittsburgh formed in the summer of 2016 around
the Rossetti dining room table,” recalls Jim Rossetti, Music
and Artistic Director of the group. “We formed from a church
handbell choir that was no longer able to play because of a change
in church personnel. As a church group we were very tight and
didn’t like the prospect of not staying together to ring as an
ensemble. Our only option seemed to be starting a community
handbell choir.”
When Tom Taylor, Director of Music at St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church in Allison Park, learned of the group’s fate,
he generously offered the use of the church’s bells and other
equipment along with rehearsal space at St. Paul’s. The group says
they will be eternally grateful for the generosity.
Ring Pittsburgh is led by officers and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization. While Rossetti is the music and artistic director,
most operational decisions and are made by the Board of
Directors and Officers and carried out by the members. All
members serve on at least one committee, handling things like
publicity, funds, equipment, transportation for concerts, music
library, concert scheduling, social media management and more.
While there is no age requirement, to be a member of Ring
Pittsburgh one must have some handbell experience as a ringer.
Open auditions take place every other August, and the most
recent ones were this past August. Candidates receive a copy
of the group’s handbook and one musical selection to prepare
at three bell positions of their choosing. Auditions are done in
a group setting with the entire group to keep the audition as
informal as possible. All candidates will then have a discussion
with the board officers to answer any questions and understand
expectations.
“In addition to regular auditions, we are currently open to any
new individuals who would like to ring with us,” says Rossetti. “A
more lengthy ‘audition process’ of several rehearsals will give new
folks a chance to ring with us to learn if their ringing style and
experience will enable them to successfully execute the level of
music and musicianship we strive to achieve. We do not attempt
the most difficult music available in the handbell world, but we
strive for a very high level of musicality to entertain and educate
our audiences.”
Continued on next page >
2017 Ring Pittsburgh Ensemble
Kneeling (L to R): Jill Campbell, Mary Anne Kilburg, Carol Soohy, Regina Kettering, Susan Helfrich, Lisa Swift
Standing (L to R): Yumi Fisher, Jim Rossetti, Debbie Belschner, Mary Rita Rossetti, Caleb Onstead, Cindy Potter, Kathy Ennis, Debbie Fabio, Lindsay Ries
Not pictured: New ringers for 2018-2019: Susan Michel, Donis Petnuch
FOX CHAPEL AREA
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FALL 2018
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