The Joyful Ringers Bells Choir will ring out the old year at the Ephesus Church in Belvedere on Saturday, bringing the curtains down on a year of well-received performances around the island.
The choir of 26 children, some as young as eight years old, has been ringing its bells at various occasions throughout the year, the most recent at the Princess Juliana International Airport.
For the past three years, the children, who are drawn from various churches around the island, as well as the Union Farm neighborhood, have been serenading visitors to the island with their unique chimes.
On December 22, the group, directed by principal of the St. Maarten Seventh Day Adventist School Merlese Lake, stood under the majestic Christmas tree at the airport and tinkled Christmas carols, much to the delight of the bustling audience.
According to Lake, the performances at the airport were initiated some 15 years ago after someone approached her and asked for students to serenade arriving passengers. Three years ago, Lake said, she contacted the airport and asked for the Bells Choir to perform.
"It was different [and] I wanted to expose [the group] to more public places," Lake explained.
The demure principal started working with the children out of her home more than five years ago and when the numbers increased, moved the practice sessions to the Adventist church in Belvedere.
"They ring a number of old hymns, as they plan to play for the senior citizens; ‘The Old Rugged Cross’; ‘Oh Sweet St. Martin Land’; and carols," said Lake.
But all of this charitable work would not have been possible without the assistance of some parents, church member Cuthbert Chandler, and bus driver Joseph Harris – all of whom volunteer their time by accompanying the group to events.
"Especially Mr. Harris," Lake stressed, "I took the children to Burger King for a treat and he came and stayed there. These persons [Harris and Chandler] are always ready when I need assistance."
To date, the choir has performed at concerts, funerals and at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. In 2012, Lake said, she plans to take the group out more, as their confidence continues to grow.