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Sublime Chimes

Members of Sublime Chimes 2016.

 

Left to right: Jeanette, Linda, Kathy, Glen, Karen, Ruth - Musical Director, Marie, Gail - Ensemble Co-ordinator, and Christine.

History

Based in Port Macquarie, NSW, The Sublime Chimes Ensemble is a Handbell and ChoirChime ringing group founded in 2013 by a group of women, mostly retired, keen to create a musical group in which reading music was not a pre-requisite. Being part of the Ensemble would enable them to learn a new and unique skill in their retirement. Since formation, music-readers and non-music-readers alike, succeeded in becoming a cohesive group of 13 players ringing Handbells and ChoirChimes. This was greatly assisted by the loan of Schulmerich Handbells from the Handbell Society.

 

In addition to being a group member of the Handbell Society of Australasia, the Ensemble was accepted as a Sub-Unit of the Port Macquarie Hastings Municipal Band in 2014. Only a few months after formation, the Ensemble made its debut public performance, and has continued performances in support of organisations such as The Red Cross, Legacy, Salvation Army and community events celebrating Seniors Week and our Heritage.

 

Enormous fundraising efforts by members, combined with successful Grant applications, permitted the Ensemble in late 2015 to purchase their own 3-Octave set of Malmark Handbells.

 

In early 2016, an additional 7 members - including one gentleman - joined the Ensemble, all of whom are music-readers. This ability has enabled them to seamlessly join the pre-existing group. The increase in the number of ringers has allowed the Ensemble to expand their repertoire and thus be in a position to accept more gigs.

 

The original vision adopted by The Sublime Chimes Ensemble continues … “to learn to play as a team so we may present the pleasure of music to people of all ages through our traditional and contemporary interpretation of the ancient art of handbell ringing”.

 

Sublime Chimes appearance on Sunday 20th March 2016 at a Concert in aid of The Red Cross, held at Port Macquarie Uniting Church, sharing the stage with the Port Macquarie Hastings Municipal Band and Port Macquarie Sing Australia Choir (many ringers are also singers - and band members!).

 

This was the first time the original members combined with our recent recruits in a Concert. The performance was amazing - not only the addition of the new players, but also freeing up Deb to accompany on Djembe drum and Gail on egg-shaker, maracas and tambourine. What a difference a bit of showmanship makes - our thanks go to Dr Lindy Crocker for the recent workshop giving us tips and tricks to spice things up!

 

Left to right: Maddalena, Ruth (Musical Director), Sheila, Colleen, Liz, new member Marie, new member Jeanette, new member Karen, Deb, Kathy, new member Glen and Gail

 

The Sublime Chimes when we took delivery of our own Malmark Handbells!

 

Not all our members were in attendance that day, but from left to right they are:-

 

Ruth (Musical Director), Kim, Sheila, Liz, Deb, Maddalena, Margaret, Marj, Kathy and Val.

 

Gail is, as usual, behind the camera!

Taken at an outdoor concert in the grounds of the Historic Courthouse in Port Macquarie during the January school holidays 2016. As you can see, we were battling the wind!

 

Pictured left to right: Margaret, Liz, Sheila, Kathy, Maddalena, Colleen, Marj - Town Crier, Gail - MC and Ruth - MD.

The Sublime Chimes performing at the Salvation Army’s Carol Concert 2015

 

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