Local News & Media Relations

MEQUON, Wis. The Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. John Behnke, will be performing a special concert entitled, Songs and Dances on Sunday, June 3, at 3:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ Triumphant at Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, and on Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m., at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1044 Silverbrook Drive, West Bend.

The first half of the program will include new original works for handbells including an award-winning composition entitled, Allegro Spiritoso and a work by 18 year old Josh Bauder entitled, Exultate. The second half of the concert will include dances of all sorts including Pizzicato Polka, the Can Can, and Bell Boogie.

Admission for the concert is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 18 and under.

The Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, sponsored by Concordia University Wisconsin, was founded four years ago and is comprised of 14 adult ringers playing 133 bells and chimes from all around the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

The goal of this group is to play advanced handbell repertoire and to be a musical resource for the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Members come from Watertown, Sheboygan, Brookfield, Franklin, West Bend, Plymouth, and throughout the Milwaukee area.

In addition to performing concerts throughout the area, in December 2006 the group joined with the Midwest Vocal Express for their Christmas concerts. The group has also recorded music for The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers new music promotional CDs and has played concerts in Kenosha, Chicago, and Mequon.

In July 2006, The Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble performed for the National Seminar for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR). In January 2006, they led a workshop for over 85 area handbell musicians at Concordia University. In 2004, they were featured in the regional conference for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians in Chicago.

The Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble has also recorded a CD entitled, An American Sampler with blues, jazz, Gospel, even boogie-woogie available from them.

For more information call Concordia University’s Music Department at 262.243.4405.

Founded in 1881, Concordia University Wisconsin's main campus is located on approximately 200 acres on Lake Michigan at 12800 N. Lake Shore in Mequon. The university is home to nearly 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The university is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and is a member of the Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities. For more information on Concordia University Wisconsin, contact the university at 262.243.4300 or visit their website at www.cuw.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2007	FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Anita Clark, Vice President of Marketing 262.243.4220 Jeff Bandurski, Director of University Relations 262.243.4380 Heidi Fendos, PR Counsel 414.778.0766

MILWAUKEE AREA HANDBELL ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM JUNE CONCERTS IN MEQUON AND WEST BEND MEQUON, Wis. The Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. John Behnke, will be performing a special concert entitled, Songs and Dances on Sunday, June 3, at 3:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ Triumphant at Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, and on Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m., at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1044 Silverbrook Drive, West Bend. The first half of the program will include new original works for handbells including an award-winning composition entitled, Allegro Spiritoso and a work by 18 year old Josh Bauder entitled, Exultate. The second half of the concert will include dances of all sorts including Pizzicato Polka, the Can Can, and Bell Boogie. Admission for the concert is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 18 and under. The Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, sponsored by Concordia University Wisconsin, was founded four years ago and is comprised of 14 adult ringers playing 133 bells and chimes from all around the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The goal of this group is to play advanced handbell repertoire and to be a musical resource for the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Members come from Watertown, Sheboygan, Brookfield, Franklin, West Bend, Plymouth, and throughout the Milwaukee area. In addition to performing concerts throughout the area, in December 2006 the group joined with the Midwest Vocal Express for their Christmas concerts. The group has also recorded music for The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers new music promotional CDs and has played concerts in Kenosha, Chicago, and Mequon. In July 2006, The Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble performed for the National Seminar for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR). In January 2006, they led a workshop for over 85 area handbell musicians at Concordia University. In 2004, they were featured in the regional conference for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians in Chicago. The Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble has also recorded a CD entitled, An American Sampler with blues, jazz, Gospel, even boogie-woogie available from them. For more information call Concordia University’s Music Department at 262.243.4405. Founded in 1881, Concordia University Wisconsin's main campus is located on approximately 200 acres on Lake Michigan at 12800 N. Lake Shore in Mequon. The university is home to nearly 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and is a member of the Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities. For more information on Concordia University Wisconsin, contact the university at 262.243.4300 or visit their website at www.cuw.edu. ###