Saint Olaf School receives chimes, will do recitals

BOUNTIFUL — Saint Olaf School received hand chimes from the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) to start the new year.

"I have been in with the AGEHR for 12 years, said Catherine Olds, who directs a handbell choir in Brigham City.

"We are area 11 of 12 in the United States, said Claudette Rothwell, chairperson-elect for the Handbell Association, who has been in the association much longer. "We are comprised of Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. In the five states we have five sets of chimes that can go to the schools, and one set that can go to a church. You have the church set, since Saint Olaf is associated with Saint Olaf Parish.

"We loan the chimes out to schools that are interested in starting a program, with the idea the school can experiment them, and then hopefully at the end of the school year, they are ready to purchase their own set. Our aim is education and uniting people through a musical art," said Rothwell. "We have chimes all over the country in the schools to help get kids exposed to music. Education is a big part of AGEHR."

As a result of having the hand chimes and hand bells, the school will get a one-year membership in the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and receive other resources and new information.

"I will arrange some compositions, and journal what we do," said Radu Noaghiu, music director at Saint Olaf School, who has a masters in orchestral conducting and is from Romania. "I have conducted an orchestra using chimes, although I have never played them.

"I would like to arrange some songs, and look at the books they have provided," said Noaghiu. "I would like to arrange some songs and add some other instruments, because it is fun when you combine the sounds of other instruments. It is easy to arrange for five or six instruments. I play all the instruments with keys including the accordion. The piano is a string and percussion instrument, and the hand chimes are a percussion instrument, which a lot of people don’t know.

"I am very very happy," said Noaghiu. "Our students also play the recorders, so they can read music. "We will have a recital.

"I just came back from Romania two days ago and this is my surprise," said Noaghiu.

"The chimes are easier and sturdier for the students to handle," said Rothwell. "The cost of chimes is $1,800 as opposed to bells for the same number at $9,000. Bells are much more fragile, so chimes are more practical for students."