Free Concert: The Music Rings On

Featuring the FPCG Handbell Choirs

May 2 - 4:00 pm

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On Sunday, May 4th at 2:00 PM, the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich will be filled with the joyful, shimmering sound of handbells as the church honors ten years of inspired leadership by Heather Antonissen, director of the FPCG Handbell Choirs. The free concert will celebrate both her decade of service and the legacy of the Clarion Ringers and Holy Ringers—two ensembles whose music and ministry are integral of the church’s worship and community life. This tribute concert will honor players who have been part of the FPCG handbell community from its inception, to those who are moving on after years of dedicated service.

 

With reverence and joy, the program will spotlight the choir’s talent, growth, and intergenerational spirit, featuring everything from triumphant fanfares to lyrical lullabies, intricate percussion, and exciting arrangements of familiar songs. “Handbells have a unique power to bring people together,” says Antonissen, who began directing the ensemble in 2015. “Each ringer contributes one small part—and only by listening and working as one can the full beauty emerge. That spirit of collaboration and connection is what makes this group so special.”

 

The FPCG handbell tradition began in 1989 through an anonymous gift and the vision of then-music director Dick Bouchett. What started as a group of eight women learning together has since grown into a vibrant ministry of over a dozen regular players. Under Antonissen’s direction, the program now includes both the advanced Clarion Ringers and the Holy Ringers, a beginner-to-intermediate ensemble that welcomes new musicians of all ages and experience levels—even those who’ve never read music before.

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The concert will also recognize former ringers, including founding members and treasured legacy figures like Ginny Rojas and Carolyn Cleveland, whose influence continues to ring through the ensemble’s work. From its original two octaves, the choir now performs on four octaves of handbells and three of chimes, many of which were donated in memory of past members. Over the years, they’ve shared their music through worship, workshops, conferences, and even celebrations beyond the sanctuary—including baby showers, cocktail parties, and community meals.

 

In a time when many congregations are experiencing transitions, the bell choirs have remained a constant: steadfast, joyful, and always ringing. As Antonissen puts it, “We ring because we love music. We stay because we’ve found a community that feels like home.”