The Dorothy Shaw Bell Choir

I have had a few people ask me about the bell choir my older daughter has been involved in for a year, and my younger is joining next month. It is called "The Dorothy Shaw Bell Choir", here is a link to a page with their history - http://dorothyshawbellchoir.org/Brochure1.pdf

Their tour history is amazing - the choir was founded in 1964 specifically to be a part of the Christmas pageant, "The Littlest Wiseman". Since then the group has evolved into a world renowned bell ringing organization. here is where they have traveled in the past - (note that there was a break in the early-mid 2000's, Mr. Walsh had passed away in 1999, and his wife Mary D. passed away August 2000. But the choir is getting back into the swing of things and going back on more tours in the future!

Colorado Springs, Colorado – 1966
Galveston Texas – 1973
Bella Vista, Arkansas – 1974
Colorado Springs, Colorado – 1975
Berea, Kentucky – (Berea College Winter Dance School Performance) - 1976
Florida – (Disney World Performance) – 1977
San Antonio, Texas – 1978
Brazil (San Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Belem, Recife) – (Network Television Performance) – 1978
Hobbs, New Mexico – 1979
England – (Canterbury Cathedral Performance) – 1979
San Francisco, California – (Golden Gate Baptist Seminary Performance) – 1980
Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Hawaii – (Tokyo concert attended by Prince Mikasa of Japan) – 1980
Houston, Texas – (Rice University Performance) – 1981
Colorado Springs, Colorado – (United States Air Force Academy Performance) – 1981
Germany, Austria and Switzerland – 1981
Washington, D.C. – (Kennedy Center Performance) – 1982
Brownwood, Texas – 1982
Nassau, Bahamas – (Christ Church Cathedral and Governor’s Mansion Performances) – 1982
Italy, Switzerland & Germany – (Audience with Pope John Paul II in Vatican City) – 1982
New York, NY – (Carnegie Hall Performance) – 1983
San Antonio, Texas – (Queen’s escort at Fiesta) – 1983
Tyler, Texas – 1983
Ireland and England – (National Concert Hall of Ireland, Network TV and Westminster Abbey Performances) – 1983
Various towns, Illinois – 1984
New Orleans, Louisiana – (World’s Fair Performance) – 1984
Portugal and Spain – 1984
Cleveland, Ohio – 1985
San Francisco. California – (American Guild of English Handbell Ringer’s Director’s Convention featured choir) – 1985
France, Belgium, Luxembourg & Germany – (Mayor’s Christmas Eve Service for the city of Paris Performance)– 1985
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – (Schulmerich Handbell Factory Performance) - 1986
Australia and New Zealand – (Carols by Candlelight Performance for audience of 30,000) – 1986
Mobile, Alabama – 1987
Florida – (Epcot Center and The Magic Kingdom Performances) – 1987
Colonial America Christmas – (White House, Colonial Williamsburg and Washington Cathedral Performances)– 1987
Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington – 1988
Los Angeles, California – (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Area VII Festival featured choir) – 1988
Scotland, Wales and England – (St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Performance) – 1988
Louisville, Kentucky – (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Performance) – 1989
Boston, Massachusetts – (Christ Church Cambridge Performance) - 1989
Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein & Austria – 1989
Atlanta, Georgia – 1990
Colorado Springs, Colorado – (Colorado College and First Presbyterian Church Performances) – 1990
Spain & Portugal – 1990
Phoenix & Scottsdale, Arizona – 1991
Spokane, Washington & Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – 1991
England & Ireland – 1991
Mobile, Alabama – 1992
Charleston, South Carolina – 1992
Victoria & Vancouver, British Colombia , Seattle, Washington & Portland, Oregon – 1992
Honolulu, Oahu, The Hawaiian Islands – 1993
San Antonio, Texas – 1993
Scotland, England & Wales – 1993
Hershey, Pennsylvania – 1994
Vermont & New Hampshire – 1994
New Orleans, Louisiana and The Mississippi Queen Christmas River Cruise – 1994
Washington, D.C. & Virginia – 1995
Colorado Springs, Colorado – 1995
New Orleans, Louisiana and The American Queen Christmas River Cruise – 1995
San Francisco, California – 1996
Atlanta, Georgia – 1996
Germany, Luxembourg & Belgium - 1996
Kansas City, Missouri – 1997
Ireland – (Arbour Hill Prison Chapel, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and University of Limerick Concert Hall New Year’s Eve Concert) – 1997
Saginaw, Michigan – 1998
Boston, Massachusetts – 1998
New York & New Jersey – 1999
Houston, Texas 2000
Atlanta, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; and Mobile, Alabama – (Epcot Center Performance) – 2000
Kansas City, Kansas and Chillicothe, Missouri – (Chillicothe Arts Council Series Performance) – 2001
San Francisco and Napa California – 2001
Colorado Springs, Colorado – 2002
Victoria & Vancouver, British Colombia, and Seattle, Washington – 2003
New York, NY – (Carnegie Hall Performance) - 2004
Houston, TX – 2005
Houston, TX – 2006
Ireland – 2007
Houston, TX - 2007
Corpus Christi, TX - 2008
Houston, TX - 2008

The senior choir left right after the last performance Friday night for Corpus Christi, and will go to Houston the day after Christmas for 4 days.

Anyhow, this is probably more info than anyone wanted :) But I am so blessed to have this activity in my daughter's lives. As a homeschool mom, I appreciate the structure, and guidelines this group follows. The kids represent, homeschoolers, public schoolers, and private schooled kids. They all have to maintain a a/b grade average, and have the highest marks in citizenship. They also must behave and dress modestly. I am seriously so glad to have my girls involved in this - it is a wonderful opportunity for them!!!

And it's not all just practice, perform, practice.. They had a square dance on Dec 5Th, which was SO enjoyable! Daryl and I attended to chaperon, and help with clean up, and the 50 or so kids that were there had a GREAT time!! And then there was the reception last week, at the Colonial Country Club (where a major golf tournament is held annually). And when on tour, the directors make sure the kids get to sight see the area they are visiting, and see anything of note that is in the area. And after getting to know the directors so well, we trust them completely with our daughters. The producing director Jack Noble White is also in charge of the Texas Boy's Choir, and our oldest son was a member of that group back in the early 90s. Mrs. White taught in the choirs private school, and made sure the boys had their schoolwork with them when going on tour. (My son traveled all over the US when he was in boy's choir) . Anyway, We trust Mr. White, and Kent and Scott (Director and asst director) completely.. so I know our girls will be well cared for on the road!!!

Again. probably not of much interest to anyone else, but I am just so pleased, and blessed to have this organization available for my kids.. and at NO COST to the families involved either!!!