The Virginia Handbell Consort (VHC) was formed in the fall of 1996 as the first community handbell ensemble in the Hampton Roads area. VHC's goal is to promote the art of English handbell ringing by performing concerts throughout the spring and winter holiday seasons.

The group is comprised of auditioned musicians performing on over five octaves of Schulmerich bells, five and a half octaves of MelodyChimes, three octaves of Petit and Fritsen bells, and other percussion instruments. Concert repertoire includes spectacular selections of secular, classical, and sacred pieces which demonstrate a multitude of bell techniques currently being explored by composers.

History of VHC

It all started on September 22, 1996 with an announcement in the local newspaper – Handbell Group Looks for Ringers. Forty people answered the call for auditions. Director Tex Minter chose eighteen ringers who became the charter members for the new Virginia Handbell Consort, the first adult community handbell ensemble in the Tidewater area. VHC started with ambitious goals that included a full schedule of nine Christmas concerts. There was just one problem – VHC didn’t own any bells! Well, thanks to the hospitality of a Virginia Beach church, we were invited to move in and use their bells and tables for rehearsals. Of course, we couldn’t take them with us when we performed, so we ordered five octaves of bells and three octaves of MelodyChimes from Schulmerich. Imagine our excitement when they finally arrived!

How does a fledgling choir pay for all that bronze? Well, we did what good handbell ensembles are supposed to do – we played lots of concerts just for the love of it! In addition to concert proceeds and donations from our fans, we also held many fundraisers. We played twenty-eight concerts in that first twelve months alone! No wonder VHC quickly gained the reputation as a premier performing group.

As our reputation grew, we began to list some truly memorable performances on our resume’. We performed at the John F. Kennedy Center (December ’97), performed as the feature choir at the 1998 Area III AGEHR Festival, accompanied the Virginia Symphony Pops in the 1999 rendition of ‘Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus’.

Director Marjorie Setnicky took the Consort to the next level beginning in the spring of 2002. She made us realize that although the ensemble is comprised of 13 ringers, the ringers must play as if they are one instrument. The exquisite choice of repertoire and the musicality of our performances began to win over new and veteran fans alike. More memorable performances followed. We once again performed as the featured choir at the 2003 AGEHR Area III Spring Festival. It was during Ms. Setnicky’s term that we received what many of our members consider our highest honor – that of performing as one of the auditioned choirs at the AGEHR 50th Anniversary Celebration in July, 2004.

Director Agnes French kicked VHC up another notch in the fall of 2006 – that of adding rhythm and percussive repertoire. You see, Ms. French firmly believes that if you used your blood, sweat and tears to buy all that equipment, you’d better use all of it! So, if you see us banging on cowbells, cracking whips and trying to keep the yarn from falling off our mallets – THAT’S WHY!! After all, handbells are percussion instruments.

To balance the percussive attack, Agnes always ensured that our repertoire included the soft, wonderfully melodic pieces that make handbells the magical art form that it is. This was never so evident than at the 2005 Christmas concert we played in front of 1,500 people at the Ferguson Center. How else to explain Greensleeves followed by Caroler’s Hoedown? The Chancellor of Christopher Newport University was overheard remarking, “They were having fun before. Now they’re just showing off!”

Another mark of a premiere choir is giving something back to the art. During the past decade, we’ve done our best to conduct workshops for aspiring ringers – most notably at the Bruton Parish festivals. Our directors and members have also taught and assisted at the AGEHR Area III Festivals. We also do our part by commissioning new handbell works; most recently with the commissioning of Cynthia Dobrinski’s “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow” and Hart Morris’ “Breakaway!” We have recorded five compact discs with another scheduled to record again before our 2010 holiday season begins.

In more recent years, VHC has hosted a Directors’ Workshop in June, 2009 aimed at teaching directors to teach handbell ringers. In response to feedback from that event, we plan another workshop this year aimed at both ringers and directors. Once again, our members are called upon to share their vast knowledge and skills in the art of handbell ringing with the public.

In May, 2010, VHC joined with Menchville House, another non-profit agency in the Hampton Roads area, to sponsor a concert with proceeds going to benefit programs offered by Menchville House. Menchville House is dedicated to reduce homelessness in Hampton Roads and has helped numerous women and children transition from their position of disadvantage to become healthy, independent and contributing members of the community. We look forward to working with other non-profit groups in the future.

It has been a joyous fourteen years, but there has been heartache along the way. We lost Rod Von Ohlson to a heart attack in 1999 and we lost Joan Monroe to cancer in 2006. Our MelodyChimes are named in Rod’s memory and we established the Joan Monroe Fund specifically to buy new equipment and commission new works in her honor.

So, what does the crystal ball predict for VHC in the next 10 years? Well, we’re handbell ringers, not fortune tellers. But, we promise that you can find us rehearsing diligently for three hours (and more) every Saturday morning.

You see, VHC is your choir! We do all of this for you! Our most cherished moments are seeing those broad smiles come across your faces and seeing you become mesmerized by our performances. We are truly honored to perform for you. We are truly blessed to have had your support today, yesterday and for the future.

Virginia Handbell Consort