Over 20 Trinity College School students have taken up the challenge of three performances each week in chapel, using the School’s five-octave set of Malmark handbells. Donated by the TCS Parents’ Guild (with additional bells honouring Cayne Fordham ’11), the bells have provided a perfect, COVID-safe activity.
As attendance in morning chapel services rotates between houses on Mondays and Tuesday, ringers have stepped up to meet early (7:50 a.m.) to prepare a popular TCS hymn arranged for bells. Ringers are separated by house, and have been supported by Ms. Shelagh Straughan’s wonderfully skilled ringing each weekday. Ringers are able to rehearse during longer sessions, as part of the Johnson Ringers (Monday evenings) or Thursday Ringers (during the Thursday co-curricular time).
Boarding student ringers have also had the opportunity to perform on Sundays, when Canon Don Aitchison, school chaplain, has led chapel for our boarders.
The School’s Chapel Choir has returned to singing at their weekly Thursday evening rehearsals, and it has been thrilling to hear voices (masked and distanced) again. Owing to COVID protocols, they are not able to perform in chapel at this time – thus, the opening for so many bell performances!
- By Mr. Randy Mills, organist, choir and bells
