Handbell ensemble to offer June 4 concert

Palmetto Bronze, the premiere handbell ensemble of the Lowcountry, presents a concert of nostalgia Sunday, June 4, at Bethel United Methodist Church.

Performing songs from 1900 to 2010, the handbell choir hopes to share music with a multi-generational appeal.

Palmetto Bronze Director Marcia J. Brantley has led the group since its establishment in 2004 and has brought them to Piccolo Spoleto every year since 2012. While the pandemic put their live events on pause, the group continued to perform via video concerts. Now, they’re back in-person.

"It's nice to have a real audience and have people in the seats," Brantley said. "It makes a whole difference to have people to interact with, clap, hoot and holler and all that kind of stuff."

Palmetto Bronze consists of seven octaves of bells with a great range of size and pitch. Mary-Kate Ward, a member of the ensemble, will be playing bass chimes on Sunday.

"Some of them are almost as tall as me!" Ward said. "They’re on a big stand, so I’ll use a mallet instead of having to actually pick them up," she said. Even the mallet is as big as a person's head.

The program will feature fan-favorites including ABBA's "Dancing Queen," representing the 1970s and Bon Jovi's "Livin’ on a Prayer" from the 1980s.

Palmetto Bronze's Caroline McKinney will take on the "Livin’ On a Prayer" guitar solo, managing 13 bells on her own.

"It's very interesting how that translates to the bells," McKinney said. "This is obviously a totally different instrument, so how do I get those nuances in there by myself? It's been a fun challenge and it's something new. It's the first time we’ve done it."

In past years, Palmetto Bronze centered their concerts around themes like movie scores, Christmas songs and "Bach to Rock."

"We always try to choose songs that people know and would enjoy listening to. With each song, we’ll have a little explanation of the times and what went on during that decade," said Nancy Douthwaite, a member from the Cane Bay area.

Palmetto Bronze brings together a range of volunteers from high schoolers to retirees. Barbara Guy, a member from Mount Pleasant, said making friends is just as rewarding as making the music.

"I probably would’ve never had a chance to interact with people from North Charleston and West Ashley, so it's been great to know the people from all around and of all age groups," she said. "We have one young woman from Summerville who is getting ready to go to college. When we were all singing these songs, she went— ‘I’ve never even heard that song.’ — It makes you feel so old!"

David Grossman, a Palmetto Bronze member who also performs and composes music professionally, said all in all, it's about working together to create something bigger than oneself.

"With handbells you’re the only one playing your notes," he said. "Everyone has to contribute. It's community," he said.

IF YOU PLAN TO GO: Palmetto Bronze performs on Sunday, June 4, at 4 p.m. for free at Bethel United Methodist Church.

Piper Starnes is an arts journalism graduate student at Syracuse University.

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