Local Eyes present: A Holiday Concert for the Coast Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Gualala Arts Center

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Gualala Arts Local Eyes will present "A Holiday Concert for the Coast" featuring the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers on Saturday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m.

This year the Melodic Bells will be joined by internationally acclaimed vocalist Sita Milchev, along with her granddaughters, the Allen Sisters.

As usual, there will be a sing-along as part of the program. Audience members are invited to bring their Messiah songbooks and sing with the bells on the Hallelujah Chorus.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $5 more on the day of the performance. Children 12 and under are free.

A brief history of the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers

Our Mendonoma Coast had been without bells for a time when Sita Milchev's mother, artist, Lucienne Bloch Dimitroff, suggested to Sita that the family purchase a set of English Hand Bells using funds from the estate of Sita's grandfather, the composer, Ernest Bloch. Sita and her family, along with other early enthusiasts, kept the bells ringing for many years, to the delight of coast residents.

In its current incarnation, the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers began playing in 1998, starting out with just four ringers - Sita, Jeanne Jackson, Gloria Brown and Bea Acosta. The group quickly grew and the bells once again rang out on the coast, including the '98 Pt. Arena 4th of July parade where the group won the Grand Prize.

Since then, the bell ringers have performed regularly at Art in the Redwoods, at St. Paul's Methodist Church, and at various concerts and functions. Each year the bell ringers have performed to benefit various community groups. Meeting every Monday at the home of Richard and Jeanne Jackson, this group delights in playing a wide range of music.

Our local bell ringers ring 4½ octaves of beautiful English Hand Bells and this concert is not to be missed. For more information, contact Jeanne Jackson at jackson2@mcn.org.

About Sita Milchev

Sita Milchev has lived on our coast for over 30 years, bringing her amazing vocal talent to many events year round. She recently sang the alto solos in her grandfather's Sacred Service internationally in Israel as well as the premiere performance in Bulgaria.

About the Allen Sisters

Davina Rose and Elise Allen are talented home-schoolers who have been singing since before they could speak. Both were founding members of the Anchor Bay Children's Choir, and have been involved in many ACT musicals. Their great gift of musical talent is shared whenever possible.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.