The Hockanum Valley Ringers are an auditioned community handbell ensemble that began rehearsing together on October 8, 2005, under the direction of Greg Fisher. The choir rings five octaves of Malmark handbells, along with five and one-half octaves of Choirchimes®. We are committed to promoting the art of English Handbell ringing through workshops and providing our audiences with exceptional concerts during the spring and Christmas seasons. Our concerts include a variety of musical styles ranging from classical transcriptions, to pop and jazz, along with original compositions written especially for handbells. We perform within the local community and beyond.
As of January 2012, Lawrence A. Berdensey became HVR’s new director. He is the past handbell director at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Gales Ferry. Mr. Berdensey has been ringing with the Shoreline Ringers, since 2006, a community based handbell group in Southeastern Connecticut. Lawrence has been a band director for 33 years and currently teaches middle school band in Groton, CT.