ALLEGRO RINGERS
1st United Methodist Church
612 Poyntz Ave.
Manhattan, KS 66502
last updated 02/15/2000

Allegro Ringers , 1st United Methodist Church, Manhattan, KS, is an adult bell choir that ministers through offerings in worship and throughout the community. We play on 5 octaves (each) of Schulmerich handbells and Malmark Choirchimes, and have ringers ranging in experience from a few months to 30+ years. It is exciting to announce that in the summer of 1999 we were able to purchase the lower half of the sixth octave of Choirchimes!

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Current repertoire

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History
Adult bell choirs at the 1st United Methodist Church of Manhattan have been in existance since _______ (1985?). Prior to that time, the adults enjoyed listening while the children and youth did the ringing.

The first incarnation of the choir was under the direction of Joan Shull, and was called Ye Olde Clappers . Some of the ringers in that group included: Jeri Stoneking, Jodi Motley*, Gayla Strohm*, Ruth Wege*, Gary Strohm, Janet Kaiser, Louise McAdams, Rev. Evelyn Fisher, Janet Goodenow, Paul Shull, Jan Benson (wrong last name)____________, _____________, ______________.

A second choir for "adult beginners", Tintinnabulators, existed from (1990?) until Joan's retirement in 1992(?). During sabaticals, directing duties were temporarily assigned to Jim ______ (Spring 1991?) and Judy Scharmann (Spring 1992?).

Early members of Tintinnabulators included: Evan Leonard, Kathy Leonard, Harvey Kaiser, Brenda Bouchette (SP?), Jill Gustafson, Mike Honas, Trudy Burtis, Penny Socolofsky, Ruth Schweitzer, Sylvia Russell, Mike Russell, Sheryl Fjell, Jana Porter, ___________, ___________, __________.

Following Joan's retirement in 199_, Judy Scharmann was selected as the full-time director. By that time, all members of Tintinnabulators had either moved out of town, been absorbed into Ye Olde Clappers , or quit ringing due to other commitments. At that time, the name of the choir was changed to Allegro Ringers .

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Allegro Ringers Alumni
include:
Brian Howard
Eleanor Howard
Ann Claussen
Trisha West
Julie Coonrod
Linda Childress
Angela Krueger
Bill Wood

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Current Allegro Ringers
Gayla Strohm
Ruth Wege
Jodi Motley
Kathy Leonard
Tammy Chalfant
Jodi Theirer
Dawn Steigert
Jane Willich
DonnaDee Chastain
Mark Chalfant
Evan Leonard
Nancy Monical
Melony Wood (standing sub and 13th pair of hands)

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Our proudest accomplishment, together with the Rhapsody Ringers (mostly College-age choir) and Spirit Ringers (a day-time Adult Beginner's choir, formed in September 1997), has been to commission Cathy Moklebust to write a piece in memory of Judy Scharmann's father. This was done without Judy's knowledge, and we presented our gift to her at the close of our Spring 1998 concert. "A New Gloria" was first published March 1, 1999. (Chorister's Guild, CGB213, 3-5 octaves, Level 5)

Repretoire currently in our folder (Fall 1999) includes:

NOTE: * items are new in our repertoire!
*Fantasy, Michael Helman
*Hymn to Joy, Beethoven, arr. by Edward Hodges, arr. for Handbells by Michael R. Keller
*Intrada, Michael Helman
Londonderry Air, arr. by Donald E. Allured
*Remembrance, Cathy Moklebust
The River, arr. by Anna Laura Page

Our repertoire is primarily church music, and we play in church at least once per month. Rehersals are on Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the bell choir room (3rd floor of the Education Center).

Click HERE to see our prior repertoire.

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