Cassville FUMC bell choir rings in 25 years of music

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

The bell choir at First United Methodist Church in Cassville is marking 25 years of performances, a milestone built on decades of practice, community support and a willingness to learn a unique musical craft. 

What began in 2000 as an idea among church musicians has become a fixture of holiday services and a cherished part of the local congregation’s worship experience.

Judy Starchman, bell choir director, said the effort started with curiosity more than expertise.

Judy Starchman, bell choir director, said the effort started with curiosity more than expertise.

“I heard the College of the Ozarks bell choir when I want to Tan-Tara for the Missouri music Educators Association Conference and thought how nice it would be for the church,” Starchman said. “That much have been about January of 1998. That put the bee in my bonnet, but I didn’t know anything about them.”

Starchman and two fellow musicians traveled in 2000 to a music workshop at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to learn more about handbells. The event featured tables filled with bells from numerous churches, giving them a firsthand look at the instrument. Their early attempts at ringing, however, made clear how much technique was required.

“They invited everybody to go to a bell and play,” Starchman said. “And then we realized there was a lot more technique to playing than what we had. I don’t know if I made four or five notes in that whole time we were up there. It was like, ‘Oh, there went my note; oh no, there went the other note.’”

After returning home, the church worked with a Warwick bell company representative and began fundraising. Each bell in the set was purchased with donations, and a personal history was added to the choir’s equipment.

“Each bell has a designation of a person that the bell was purchased in memory or in honor of,” Starchman said. “That’s how we began to get our first three octaves of bells.”

The choir’s early days were guided by its first director, Christine Samuel, who brought experience from College of the Ozarks. Four founding members — Starchman, Linda Phipps, Charli Jo Ledgerwood and Chuck Miner — remain involved today on the 13-member choir, contributing continuity as well as institutional knowledge of technique and performance.

As the choir grew, changes in leadership helped the group expand its abilities. When Starchman eventually became director, the choir added more bells.

“Now, we have four and a half octaves,” Starchman said. “We have around 30 bells total.”

Membership has naturally shifted as people move, join or take breaks. Some longtime participants arrived with prior bell experience, while others learned everything from scratch, though all who have been in the choir have been able to read music or rhythm. The group continues to welcome new ringers as openings arise.

Christmas remains the choir’s busiest and most anticipated season, and preparation begins well before December. The group’s holiday selections include secular classics like “Silver Bells” and “White Christmas,” as well as other religious tunes. Over the years, the complexity of the music has pushed both seasoned and new players to improve their precision. “Carol of the Bells” serves as both a favorite and a particular challenge.

“Carol of the Bells… that’s probably our biggie,” Starchman said. “It is still complex, especially when you have new members.”

Musical skill in rhythm is especially important, Starchman said. While each player is typically responsible for only two notes — including sharps and flats — understanding timing is essential to blending with the ensemble.

Beyond reading notes, handbell musicians must learn physical techniques unique to the instrument, including malleting, damping and reading specialized musical symbols. These skills, Starchman said, help elevate the choir’s sound.

The congregation has consistently responded with enthusiasm, Starchman said, especially during the holidays. The choir performs monthly during the regular season from September through May, offering music that resonates with churchgoers.

“We’ve had really great comments and reception,” Starchman said. “People love it. At one time, we had a children’s bell choir, and they were mostly teenagers.”

The community is invited to hear the choir perform on Sunday at the First United Methodist Church’s Christmas Card to Cassville. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the church, located at 601 Gravel St. Refreshments will be served following the event. Also, more than 200 nativity scenes will be available for viewing from 1-6 p.m.