This handbell choir from California State University – Long Beach was started by the music teacher and director Ardis Freeman who introduced the playing of hand bells in her music classes in 1978. It was so popular with the students they asked if she could form a choir.
The choir made its name through its performance every year at California State University’s Christmas Winter Festival at the First Congregational Church. They achieved a lot of recognition and performed to around 15,000 people annually. They went on to often perform with the Master Choral and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra as well as playing on recordings.
From around 1989 the choir rehearsed off-campus after a dispute when Ardis Freeman’s contract wasn’t renewed. Many of the students wanted to continue with the choir so it rehearsed at the Artesia church and was renamed the Pacific Handbell Ensemble. The membership of the ensemble was also expanded to allow musicians from outside the university.
Recordings the choir performed on include To Catch a Christmas Star by the Roger Wagner Chorale.
Roger Wagner Chorale recordings
Deck the Halls (Traditional/Anonymous)
Delos 3072 (CD: To Catch a Christmas Star)
Conductor – Roger Wagner
California State University Handbell Choir
The First Nowell (Traditional/Anonymous)
Delos 3072 (CD: To Catch a Christmas Star)
Conductor – Roger Wagner
California State University Handbell Choir
“Noel, Noel, Bells are Ringing” (Anonymous/Wilbur Chenoweth/Alice Grainger)
Delos 3072 (CD: To Catch a Christmas Star)
Conductor – Roger Wagner
California State University Handbell Choir
O Come All Ye Faithful (John Francis Wade/Fred Oakeley)
Delos 3072 (CD: To Catch a Christmas Star)
Conductor – Roger Wagner
California State University Handbell Choir
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