The Folk of Note

The “Folk of Note” are Kamloops United Church’s choir, led by Mary Jackson.

The choir meets on Thursday evenings, beginning at 6 with the tenors and basses, then around 7pm the Altos and Sopranoes arrive and they have a joint practice.

The choir offers music leadership during worship Sunday mornings, as well as gifting us with an anthem in the theme of our worship.  The main accompanying instruments are piano and organ, but we also occasionally have flute, trumpet, cello, violin and/or drums.  Rhythm instruments sometimes find their way into our music, too.  As well as choir anthems we sometimes have duets, quartets or solos.

Our congregation is one that loves to sing.  As a result, we have “hymn sing” each Sunday before our 10am worship formally begins.  It is not only a time to sing together, but a time to request your favourite hymn.  So come early, find your hymn in the hymnbook(s) and be ready to let the sing leader know the number of our choice.

The Folk of Note are found “out and about” in the community as well as at KUC.

If you would like to join the choir when they re-group after the summer, contact the church office.

Handbells and Chimes at KUC:  

KUC has had handbells as a regular part of Sunday worship and community outreach since 1997.  In addition to the 3 octaves of handbells which are on an on-going loan from the Kamloops Alliance church, a 3 octave set of hand chimes adds variety and depth to the music.    We are blessed to have two handbell choirs – Bells of Note, directed by June Routledge, for more experienced ringers and Harmony in Hand, directed by Karen McClelland for newer and beginning ringers.  These choirs offer opportunities for both “seasoned” and “new” bell ringers to enjoy their love of music and the challenge of handbell ringing.  KUC also has a solo ringer who rings 2 ½ octaves by herself!

Both choirs participate in worship services at KUC and in other Kamloops churches, can also be heard at community events, and at a variety of locations throughout Kamloops and the surrounding area.  Some highlights – guest performances with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and the Kamloops choristers, Christmas Concerts at the Sun Peaks Delta Resort Hotel, concerts at seniors residences and care facilities, I.O.D.E and Jester Provincial Conferences and playing at churches in Westminster, Surrey and Abbotsford.

Music Development

As a part of regular continuing music development, members of both choirs participate in Provincial Handbell Guild Conferences and National Handbell Festivals and Workshops.  In July, 2011, several members of Bells of Note and the full Harmony in Hand Choir will be attending Ringing Link, the National Handbell Festival in Calgary. The Harmony in Hand Choir will be playing “Living in the Light”, a piece that was arranged especially for KUC and this handbell choir in December 2010.

For more pictures of the handbell ringers, see our Photo page.

Both choirs rehearse weekly at Kamloops United Church                                                                      Harmony in Hand on Monday afternoons from 4 pm to 6 pm                                                                      and  Bells of Note on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9 pm.

Whether you are a new or experienced ringer, a member of KUC or not, we invite you to experience the music, fun, frustrations, fun, laughter, fun and the pure enjoyment that ringing handbells can bring.  There is a place for you!

We are always looking for new ringers, so if you have played bells before or would like to give ringing a try, contact either June at 250–372-0708  or Karen at 250 – 554–4720.

“Harmony In Hand” ~ our 2010~2011 season:

In addition to playing once a month during worship at KUC, Harmony In Hand played at a variety of different locations.  During the fall and winter Harmony in Hand played at a Sunday Service at the Westsyde Community Church, the Full Gospel Tabernacle Seniors’ Program & the Retired Teachers’ Association Christmas event.  Harmony in Hand were also guest performers at the Kamloops Choresters’ Concert, Sun Peaks, Riverview Long Term Care Facility and the Christmas Eve service at KUC.

A Christmas Bell Concert, with delightful guests “Ashira” and their leader Noralee Quast, was very successful.

This spring Harmony In Hand continued to offer their gifts during morning worship at KUC, and also played at church services at PLURA Hills United and Mount Paul United.  They performed at KUC’s Arts Extravaganza and sevceral long term care facilities.

As part of continuing music development, three of the Harmony in Hand coir attended “Spring Ring”, the Provincial Handbell Festival and Workshop, and the full Harmony In Hand Choir will be attending “Ringing Link”, the National Handbell Festival and Workshop in Calgary in July 2011.  A real delight for this choir will be the playing of “Living in the Light”, a piece that was arranged especially for this handbell choir in December 2011.

In this picture Harmony In Hand is playing both handbells and chimes.  For more pictures of this group see our Photo page.

Both choirs rehearse weekly at Kamloops United Church                                                                            Harmony in Hand on Monday from 4 pm to 6 pm  [contact  Karen at 250-554–4720                               and  Bells of Note on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9 pm  [contact June at 250–372-0708]

Bells of Note

Founded in the fall of 1997, the Bells of Note played together until the autumn of 2010.  Their musical offerings, usually once a month, were a regular part of Kamloops United Church worship services. Their Director was June Routledge. The handbell musicians had a busy schedule performing for community events. They’ve performed as guests with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, the Kamloops Choristers, at Sorority & I.O.D.E. Provincial Conferences, the Sun Peaks Delta Resort Hotel, the Historical Society’s Christmas Banquet, the Japanese Cultural Centre, at numerous local churches, and provincially at Queen’s Avenue United Church in New Westminster, Colebrook United in Surrey, and Trinity Memorial in Abbotsford.

Within this handbell choir of eleven ringers, they have a bell soloist, and two of their ringers ring with the Provincial Bell Group called “BC Bronze”. These bell-ringing musicians are also quite energetic about seeking professional development opportunities. Most of them attend the annual Provincial Handbell Guild Conferences held each year in early May. Others have attended National Handbell Ringers Conferences, and even International Conferences.

So—in anticipation of the Bells of Note being back to ring in a new season beginning in September 2011, if you are interested in Handbell ringing, especially as an expression of your faith – this is an opportunity to do so in the local community and even to travel around the world–participating in handbell conferences and events!! Handbell ringing is truly a delightful way to share music, camaraderie, and our faith journey!