About Us

The Heritage Ringers of Huntsville, Alabama is an auditioned community concert handbell choir. It was organized in 1985 by Dr. Stanley McDaniel, the then Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville. This group played on four octaves of Schulmerich Bells and two octaves of Malmark Handchimes. Of the original group only one member of that first year group, Carol Kimball, still plays with Heritage Ringers.

The group was organized to promote excellence in handbell ringing, to provide an opportunity to play music not likely to be encountered in a church program, and to give the community a different musical medium.

The Heritage Ringers perform concerts twice a year in December and in May. They also play occasionally for benefits and organizations in the area. For the past few years they have played in December at Burritt Museum for their

Heritage Ringers represented the state of Alabama at Area VI Conferences, 1991 in Gatlinburg, TN and 2009 in Huntsville, AL. They were a featured choir in1994 for Handbell Musicians of America National Conference in Mobile, AL.

Heritage Ringers of Huntsville currently ring 6 ½ octaves of Schulmeich/Malmark bells, C2 through G8 as well as 6 octaves of Malmark handchimes – C2-C8. At the present time they practice and perform at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road, Huntsville, AL.

Heritage Ringers have had five directors: Dr. Stanly McDaniel, organizer (1985-1987), Mr. Victor Thompson (1988), Dr. James H. Rogers (1989-2007), Dr. Dan Lawhon (2008-2011), and Mr. Shane Kennedy (2012-present).

This choir is funded entirely by membership dues and performance honorariums and is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.