HARMONY RINGERS
OF OHIO
About us
Harmony Ringers was formed in the summer of 2011 in Canton, Ohio after the folding of another area premiere handbell choir. The Director, Christine Allison, felt the need for those who were ringing, now without a more advanced choir, to still have a place to showcase their talents. Thus the birth of Harmony Ringers, under the umbrella of A Chorus for a Cause. Watch us grow...watch us become Stark County's premier auditioned community handbell choir.
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Handbells were invented in 17th century England when neighbors of bell
A Brief History of Handbells.
Handbells were invented in 17th century England when neighbors of bell towers tired of listening to long change-ringing rehearsals. Handbells permitted the rehearsals to take place in the spirited warmth of pubs. Handbells were first brought to the United States around 1840. They were popularized by P.T. Barnum as a circus attraction. After this, handbell teams went into the Vaudeville circuit.
In the 1940's people began ringing handbells in American churches. Handbells were first manufactured in the United States in the 1960's. Today there are over 10,000 handbell choirs in North America. Approximately 1% of these are community groups such as Harmony Ringers of A Chorus for a Cause. The rest are affiliated with churches and schools.