218 Dan Dr, Pittsburgh PA 15216

The mission of the Three Rivers Ringers (TRR) is to educate the tri-state area (western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio) about the art of handbell ringing through performance at the highest artistic level and through educational programming for handbell musicians. TRR accomplishes this goal through two avenues: concerts and educational programming.

Each Three Rivers Ringers performance serves to enlighten our audiences about the art of handbells in a concert setting. Selections on the concert program are introduced to the audience, highlighting musical aspects of interest or special techniques that the ringers will utilize during the piece. Following every concert, TRR invites the audience up to the stage for an interactive session with the ringers and the ensemble’s equipment. Audience members can literally get their hands on the bells and chimes and experience what it is like to be a handbell musician, as well as meet the musicians of the ensemble.

Each TRR concert features music written, arranged or transcribed for handbells and handchimes. As an advanced handbell ensemble, Three Rivers Rivers concerts feature technically and musically difficult repertoire, challenging the abilities of the ensemble. Each TRR musician also plays with, or directs, at least one other handbell ensemble; as a result, each musician’s “home” ensemble grows musically, improving the overall handbell community. TRR concerts also feature music specifically written for the ensemble, thus contributing to the development of handbell repertoire. As most handbell ensembles exist as a component of church sponsored music programs, most handbell repertoire is of a sacred nature. As an independent organization, TRR performances introduce audiences to secular handbell repertoire, an opportunity not often found in the Pittsburgh area.  

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