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, by ringer Wayne Hicks

It all started on September 22, 1996, with an announcement in a local magazine -- 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 Hampton Roads area. VHC started with ambitious goals that included a full slate of nine Christmas concerts. There was just one problem - VHC didn't yet own any bells! Schulmerich came to the rescue and our first concert season was played on borrowed bells. It didn't take long for us to acquire our own bells. Using concert proceeds, fundraising, and generous endowments from you, we took delivery of our very own five octaves of "Schullies" and 3 octaves of MelodyChimes in June of 1997.

Now, how does a fledgling choir pay for all that bronze? Well, we did what good handbell ensembles are supposed to do - we ignored the bills and played lots of concerts just for the love of it! We played twenty-eight concerts in that first 12 months alone! No wonder that VHC quickly gained the reputation as a premiere 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 featured choir at the 1998 Area III AGEHR Festival, and 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 the although the ensemble is comprised of 13 ringers, the ringers must play as if they're one instrument. The exquisite choice of repertoire and the musicality of our performances began to win over new fans 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 us 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 best 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 ensures that our repertoire includes 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 Chistopher 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 can also be found teaching and assisting at the AGEHR Area III festivals. We also do our part by commissioning new handbell works, most recently with the commissionings of Cynthia Dobrinski's "Rise Up Shepherd and Follow", and Hart Morris' "Breakaway!" We have recorded four compact discs with another one to be recorded in June.

It's been a joyous ten years, but there has been heartache along the way, too. We lost Rod Van 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, 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 past 10 years.

We wish you all the best and we look forward to spending the next ten years with you!

Virginia Handbell Consort