MEQUON, Wis. - Concordia University Wisconsin's nationally-renowned Alleluia Ringers will be hosting a concert on Sunday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Concordia's in the Chapel of Christ Triumphant. Admission is $7 for adults and children under 18 are free.  Tickets may be purchased at the door. All seating is by general admission.  For more information call (262) 243-4405.

The program will feature Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor and his Fugue in G minor, plus works by noted handbell composers, Arnold Sherman, Fred Gramann as well as two new compositions by director/composer, John Behnke.   If you have never seen this group, you will be amazed at what music these 13 ringers make with the 133 bells and chimes that they play.   It is visually as well as musically exciting.   

The Alleluia Ringers are an auditioned group of 13 student musicians who play six-octave 72 bells, and five-octave 61 handchimes. Since its inception in the fall of 1986, The Alleluia Ringers have earned the distinction of being one of the finest handbell choirs in the United States.   Last July, they were invited to play one of the feature evening concerts for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers National Seminar in Dallas, Texas.  

In December, this group played for the fifth time with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in their Holiday Pops concerts. They have also made two tours to Germany and two tours to Norway, Sweden, and Estonia. In 2001, they were selected to play for Handbell Spectacular in Palm Springs, CA. The group also records the demo CDs for The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Inc.  

This is Dr. Behnke's 22st year of directing this exceptional group of young people. He is a highly acclaimed organ recitalist and teacher, handbell director and clinician, and composer of church music. Behnke’s compositions are in print with 17 different publishers in the United States, Taiwan, and Germany, and he has been the recipient of ASCAP composers grants each year since 1998.