October 7, 2007 -- HINSDALE, ILL. -- Embellish, the premiere handbell ensemble of the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area, under the direction of Stephanie Wiltse, will begin a Midwest mini-tour with a concert at Union Church of Hinsdale, IL on Friday, October 12 at 7:00 PM.

The 15 member, fully auditioned ensemble was founded in the spring of 1995, and rings on 6 ½ octaves of Malmark handbells and 5 ½ octaves of Malmark Choirchimes. Embellish has performed extensively in the Midwest, including concerts in Indiana, Ohio and the Chicago area, as well as concerts at two national events of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, one in Dallas and one in Dayton. They also did a five-concert tour in France in the summer of 2006.

The concert program will include two pieces composed especially for Embellish. The newest addition to their repertoire is “Khumbula Ubuhle (Remember Goodness)” by Sondra K. Tucker, commissioned in memory of the late Dirk Koning, a Grand Rapids community activist who was a strong advocate for access to communications technology for all people. Koning often told a story of visiting a small village in Africa and offering all kinds of technological advances to the remote community. After listening to the visitors’ offers, the village leader said “That’s all very well and good, but what we really need is a bell.” Koning used the story to illustrate how we need to listen to people to hear what they need, rather than to tell them what we think they need. “Khumbula Ubuhle” celebrates the “Bell Story” by joining bells and percussion in the dancing rhythms of African music.

Embellish will also play another piece written for them: “The Blessedness of Unity” by Lee Afdahl, Director of Music and Organist of First Presbyterian Church in Rochester, MN, where Embellish will perform on Sunday afternoon at the end of their tour.

Other repertoire will include “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro” by W.A. Mozart, arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson; “Bourrée” by J.S. Bach, arranged by William Griffin; “On This Day, Earth Shall Ring” arranged by Cathy Moklebust, and several original works including “Cosmic Dance” by Sondra K. Tucker; “Contemplation on Ubi Caritas” by Michigan composer Catherine McMichael; “Day of the Dance” by Kevin McChesney; and two pieces by Parisian composer Fred Gramann: “Change Ring Prelude on Divinum Mysterium” and “Lumière.”

After the concert in Hinsdale, Embellish will travel to Minneapolis for a concert and a worship service, and will conclude the tour with an afternoon concert in Rochester.

There is no charge for the Hinsdale concert, but a free-will offering will be gratefully accepted. Directions to the church may be found here: http://www.uchinsdale.org/

For more information, call the Union Church of Hinsdale, 630-323-4303, or contact Embellish at 616-915-0134.