Ringing in the holidays — literally!

First, let me officially wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  This is one of my favorite holidays of the year and I want to make sure we don’t overlook it.  I just think that the idea of our country setting aside a particular day of giving thanks to our Creator for our many blessings is rather unique and admirable.  I especially like the history of the Pilgrims and that nearly 240 years later, President Lincoln decided we should celebrate a national day of thanksgiving.  In reading about President Abraham Lincoln, it is easy to deduct that our president was thankful to God, our Creator for His goodness to us as a nation.  I like that too!

Of course, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, that also means the announcement of the Christmas season too.  Music and Christmas go together like turkey and stuffing.  And what better way of ringing in the season than with a concert of bells, ringing out some of the most loved Christmas songs of all time?  We looked high and low to find one of the finest professional handbell choirs in the country.  We found them in the San Francisco Bay Area in the Sonos Handbell Ensemble.

This professional music ensemble has appeared on major television shows and radio broadcasts, including most recently, a second appearance on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”.  They have toured all over the world and performed with some of the finest orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony.

In looking over their program of music they will perform in Van Wert at the Niswonger this December 1, I can tell you it is going to be a spectacular program of Christmas music with everything from Handel’s Messiah to “Jingle Bells” and even “White Christmas”.  Guest instrumentalists are added to give variety and color to the program.  Noted as the Olympians of handbell ensembles tells me that we are in for not only a musical feast, but also a visual treat.

Bringing a professional handbell group like Sonos in town, just means we need to take the advantage of offering an educational opportunity for those who ring bells throughout our area in community and church ensembles.  We will do that following the concert.  We have nearly 60 ringers from the region who will be staying around after the concert to learn from these professionals.

This is the second of our four concert Community Concert Series.  Nearly 875 seats are already filled for this exciting Christmas concert, but you can still attend by purchasing your ticket now or at the door for just $20.  You can also go online at NPACVW.ORG and purchase your ticket if you don’t want to leave the home or office.

We follow Sunday’s 3 p.m. concert with the Sonos Handbell Ensemble with the beloved singer/entertainer/TV personality (and Van Wert favorite) Tony Orlando with his Great American Christmas Show.  Tony will be in town Saturday, December 7, and a few tickets remain for this fun night of music, entertainment, laughs and warm Christmas memories.  If you like Jazz, Soul,

Gospel, piano, guitar, vocals, and saxophone, then Dave Koz & Friends is coming to the Niswonger on Tuesday night, December 10.  This spectacular Christmas show is a must see experience.  Lastly, Christian artists Point of Grace will “grace” our stage to a sold-out house with guest singers, Knight Vision of Crestview High School on Sunday, December 15.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and then welcome you to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio to enjoy the music of the season, starting this Sunday as we ring in the season with the Sonos Handbell Ensemble!