RING SARASOTA:
The Area’s Premier Handbell Ensemble
As the area’s premier handbell ensemble, Ring Sarasota’s spirited musicians captivate audiences of all ages with a unique combination of entertainment, education, and community engagement.
Dedicated to enhancing handbell ringing as an art form, the Sarasota‐based group under the direction of former Navy bandleader Rick Holdsworth showcases over 200 individual handbells and handchimes rung by a large ensemble of ringers to create a symphony of sound with special effects mimicking the piccolo, percussion, trombone, and even the Tibetan singing bowl! Ring Sarasota attracts member ringers from as far north as Tampa Bay and as far south as Fort Myers.
Performance history highlights include a news-making Veterans Day celebration benefiting 48 hometown soldiers through Manatee Operation Troop Support, a sold-out Christmas collaboration with Bay Chorale at Neel Performing Arts Center, debuting director Rick Holdsworth’s original transcription of Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets, and an invitation to ring as the featured ensemble at the Handbell Musicians of America Florida state festival.