Wesley Bell Ringers on Tour!

The Wesley Bell Ringers will leave on their summer tour on June 12, 2008, visiting 11 states and performing 14 times. Twenty five teenagers, chaperones, directors and ten octaves of bells will load on a bus to head from Salt Lake City to the Eastern seaboard.

The hosting churches will provide meals, a comfortable bed and an opportunity to meet new friends across the country.

The Bell Ringers have supported the tour through various fundraising projects, squeezed in between twice-weekly rehearsals, numerous local performances and a myriad of high school activities. Some of the fundraisers include:

• Two huge rummage sales which raised some $20,000
• Rent-A-Ringer (kids hired themselves out to do odd jobs)
• A Valentine's dance and dinner
• Pancake breakfasts
• Christmas gift wrap sales

The Wesley Bell Ringers are directed by Mr. Terry Waite. He played in the choir from 1967-1970 and has directed bell and vocal choirs for over 25 years.

2008 Tour Dates:

Saturday, June 14
Asbury United Methodist Church
2916 Alexandria Pike
Highland Heights, KY 41076

Sunday, June 15
Duff United Methodist
400 Duff Ave.
Clarksburg, WV 26301

Monday, June 16
Delran United Methodist Church
30 Conrow Rd.
Delran, NJ

Tuesday, June 17
St. Andrews United Methodist Church
999 York Rd.
Warminster, PA 18974

Wednesday, June 18
Sea Cliff United Methodist Church
Carpenter and Downing Ave.
P.O. Box 190
Sea Cliff, NY 11579

Friday, June 20
First UMC of Warren
25 Church St.
Warren, RI 02885

Saturday, June 21-- 5:30 p.m.

Cathedral of the Pines

Rindge, NH

Sunday, June 22
United Methodist Church of Williamson
4146 Ridge Rd.
P.O. Box 172
Williamson, NY 14589

Monday, June 23
Church of the Cross
5901 Millfair Rd.
Fairview, PA 16415

Tuesday, June 24
Thornapple Community Church
3260 Thornapple River Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Wednesday, June 25
Huntertown United Methodist Church
16021 Lima Rd.
Huntertown, IN 46748

Friday, June 27
Waverly United Methodist Church
14410 Folkstone St.
Waverly, NE 68462

Saturday, June 28
Broomfield United Methodist Church
545 W. 10th Ave.
Broomfield, CO 80020

Sunday, June 29
Christ United Methodist Church
2375 E 3300 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84109

Audio Links

Wesley Bells Ringers Samples

These are large files and may take a moment to download.

Finale from Symphony No. 2 in D Major - Charles Marie Widor

The Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa

O Holy Night - Adolphe C. Adam

A Brief History

In 1963 nine bored teenagers from Christ United Methodist Church sold sandwiches for six months and made enough money to buy twenty-five hand bells. The Wesley Bell Ringers became the first hand bell choir in Utah. Fast forward 45 years and over 400 high school aged students have played in the choir which has expanded to 10 octaves of English hand bells, and two octaves each of hand chimes, cup bells, silver melody bells and a carillon. All of the money for purchasing equipment and touring to perform has been raised through the fundraising activities of these dedicated youth.

The Bells Ringers have recorded 16 tapes and CDs. Each summer the choir travels across North America sharing their music. The choir has performed in all 50 states as well as all of the Canadian provinces. They have played at Mount Rushmore, Disney World, The Cathedral of the Pines National Memorial, the 2002 Winter Olympics and the United States Capitol. They have made joint appearances with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony.

The purpose of the choir is to glorify God through the performance of music, and to leave all they encounter with a greater hope for the future by showing what youth can accomplish through hard work, commitment and teamwork.