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The Kevinwood Bells are an ensemble of the Kevinwood Orchestra of Eastwood , formed after the orchestra returned from a World Youth Festival in Zurich.   Kevinwood Bells represented Australasia at the first International Symposium to be held in Australia in 1994 , sent a small team to Japan where they performed for the Prince and Princess of Japan and travelled to Brisbane for the second Australian World Symposium. They are very active members of the HSA (Handbells Society of Australasia) and have travelled to most capital cities in Australia as well as various locations in New Zealand including Christchurch in 2009, Launceston in 2011 and Perth in 2013.

Their International Symposia appearances include Adelaide , Japan, Brisbane and Vancouver (July 2016) .They were the only Australian team performing at the the Vancouver Symposium, joining 750 players from around the world in massed ringing and also giving two team performances - The Swan (from Saint Saens Carnival of the Animals) and Brubeck's Take Five, both works arranged by team member Peter Hogg. Kevinwood Bells also presented two workshops - one an Australian Cultural "Christmas in July", sharing some of the traditions of this concept with ringers from the northern hemisphere and a second one on Off-Table-ringing, a style historically from England but chosen by Kevinwood as their main style of concert bellringing. Great interest was expressed in this by the delegates.

Always keen for a challenge the Kevinwood bells joined over 400 bellringers around the world in the composition by James Meredith. See the link Virtual Handbell Ensemble. Each segment presented is only a few seconds long, so it is easy to miss - but all of the clips with Australian backgrounds such as The Opera House,Ayers Rock, the Harbour Bridge, kangaroos etc. will be disguised Kevinwood players.

Current Musical Director: Suzanne Maslen

Foundation Ringleader: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download information brochure about Kevinwood Bells

The photograph shows the bells playing in four-in-hand style at the Canberra Carillon during centenary celebrations there in 2013. Rehearsals: Haseler Centre Hall, 32 Hillview Road, EASTWOOD NSW, Australia
Saturdays, 9.00-11.00am (except in January)

Kevinwood normally plays on 3 1/2 octaves of Malmark Bells and 4 octaves of Schulmerick chimes, performing in the less-well-known "off-table" ringing style. As well as larger performances of note such as Sydney's Carols in the Domain, Christmas Carols in Sydney Town Hall and St. Marys Cathedral, Kevinwood enjoys ringing four-in-hand (as seen in the Canberra performance)  and takes up  challenges associated with requests for bells in locations or situations with which they have not previously been involved. They performed at the City of Sydney's 'Christmas Choirs in the City' in both November 2018 and 2019.

STYLES OF RINGING
four-in-hand

generally numbered music

youtube example

useful for small group playing
especially Christmas carols, weddings etc.
English off-table

usually regular piano-style music

youtube example

main performances in concert style
American style usually regular piano-style music not the preferred style for Kevinwood, but they can perform this way to match up with other groups in "massed ringing ensembles"
Change-ringing similar to tower-bell ringing performed on special occasions, such as weddings

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is limited in number , varying from 6 to 10 players. It is open, when positions are available, to anyone with a desire to ring. Preference will be given to those with an ability to read music and to those who are able to regularly attend rehearsals. Junior players are welcome, either performing with the main team in a limited number of works - or performing with the Junior Orchestra in concert items.

SPECIAL FEATURE PERFORMANCES - Carols in the Domain, 1998,1999. Ringing in the New Century Domain 2000, Carols at Sydney Town Hall 2002, launch of Kia new models at Darling Harbour, After Dark at St Marys Cathedral 2005, Canberra Carillon centenary performance April 2013, Christmas Carols at Beecroft 2015 and Relay for Life at Castle Hill in 2016, Christmas Choirs in the City 2018, 2019.

Music:
The repertoire crosses the complete range of mucial styles and has ranged from the "Cantina Band" theme from "Star Wars" to "Phantom of the Opera", Gregorian Chant and even "Stairway to Heaven"

Music Examples - both Secular and Sacred

Morning from "Peer Gynt" Grieg
Laudate Dominum (Solemn Vespers) Mozart
Vespers Rachmaninov
Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring Bach
In Paradisum from "Requiem" Faure
Hava Nageela arr. Lloyd-Smith
Flight of the Bumble Bee Rimsky-Korsakov
All major Wedding marches, melodies  
Overture to the Barber of Seville Rossini
Pie Jesu Andrew Lloyd Webber
Fur Elise Beethoven
Kanon Pachelbel
Litany - solo & bells Schubert
Easy Winners Joplin
Tschaikowsky Medley  
Gershwin Medley  
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Mozart
Andante from Violin Concerto Mendelssohn
London Bells  
Suite of Bach Pieces JS Bach
Donovan's Donkey Robyn Nairn of Kevinwood
In a Monastery Garden Ketelby
Sheep May Safely Graze Bach
Solfeggietto PE Bach
Night Orlovich (commissioned for HSA Symposium)