Play in a Rewarding Community Music Ensemble

As the music director of First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, I’ve seen many people’s lives enriched by involvement in a community music ensemble. Our local handbell ensemble gives musicians (and aspiring musicians) the opportunity to meet new friends, perform beautiful music that they couldn’t learn on their own, and share that music with the community through recitals. If you would like to join our group, please get in touch.

-John Cavicchio

Handbell Ensemble Details

Rehearsal Location

We will hold our weekly rehearsals at First Presbyterian Church in Freehold, NJ. The church is at the corner of West Main Street and Brinckerhoff Ave. in the heart of Freehold and just a few blocks away from Highway 9.

You do not need to bring your own handbells, as the church has graciously permitted us to use theirs. We do ask that you treat the instruments with care and respect.

Rehearsal Times and Season Duration

The season will kick off on September 14, 2022, and we will work towards a public recital at some point during the holiday season. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at 7:00PM.

Membership and Group Size

The handbell choir with be capped at 17 ringers, and if you would like to get involved, please send me an email. There will be a modest membership fee for musicians who are not in my piano studio.

Do You Need Prior Musical Knowledge To Join the Handbell Choir?

The most important skill needed for handbell choir participation is counting. This is a truly unique ensemble, in that you will only be accountable for 1-3 notes. You don’t necessarily need to read music at an advanced level to join as a handbell ringer.

The music is written on a traditional staff, but you can circle your particular notes if you are feeling unconfident. Then, simply count the beats between your notes and ring when it’s your turn.

More advanced handbell music will require ringers to play multiple bells at once per hand (this allows us to play music with a fuller sound).

We will also get into more advanced techniques, like plucking, using mallets, and more.