The MHS Bell Choir, led by presidents Daniela Winters (‘28), Hadley Hall (‘28), and Jackie Mannix (‘26), is a student-led group composed of orchestra students that play music with handbells.
In a handbell choir, everyone is assigned to two notes with one bell in each hand. All of the different notes are different colors, for example, the note C is red and the note D is orange, making a rainbow of bells when they are all lined up. Everyone also wears soft, white gloves to keep the bells clean. Since most of the time a bell-choir participant is either playing off of someone or playing a chord with someone else, focus and coordination is critical for success.
The MHS bell-choir began three years ago when MHS Alum Alejandra Urdaneta (‘25) arrived in Mamaroneck from Venezuela at the start of her Junior year and felt inspired to pioneer the school’s very first handbell choir.
After visiting a local music shop and receiving a confused response when she asked if they sold handbells, she was shocked to learn that handbells were not a common instrument in the U.S. In Venezuela, Urdaneta “lived in a city where the bells and the bell choir were well known.”
Without losing hope or motivation, she bought a set of handbells and brought them into her orchestra class. After playing a demo for the class, the orchestra teacher allowed her to start the group as students were interested and excited for the opportunity.
When reflecting upon the significance that bell choir had on Urdaneta’s adjustment to Mamaroneck, she stated, “Starting the MHS Bell Choir not only helped me adapt better to living in a different country and to make friends — but it also helped me to create my community in my school and to show a little bit of my culture and my musical education to Mamaroneck High School.”
Today, the MHS Bell Choir is in full swing for its third year in action with periods two, four, and five having mini groups that meet during their allocated orchestra periods. Then, the entire ensemble meets all together at lunches to prepare for upcoming events or concerts. Already this year, they have performed at the Board of Education Meeting and the 3rd annual MHS Children’s concert on November 15th. With about 800 people in attendance at the Children’s Concert, the bell choir performed “Under The Sea” from The Little Mermaid. Other Bell Choir traditions include wearing Santa hats when playing Christmas tunes including “Jingle Bells” and “Carol of the Bells — both to be presented at the upcoming Winter Concert!