Newtown Student Performs In Holiday Blazing Bells Handbell Concert

Waterbury — The Blazing Bells, Chase Collegiate’s upper school handbell choir, performed recently at the Lions Club Annual Holiday Luncheon at the Waterbury Club.

In addition to the Blazing Bells, lower school students perform regularly, and there is a separate middle school handbell choir at Chase as well. Some of the upper school choir members of Blazing Bells first learned to ring in fifth grade at the school, and they remain loyal to the unique art form and share a love of making music through bell ringing.

Dayna Drake, who teaches lower school music and handbells to students in grades 5 through 12, has taught at Chase for more than 20 years. Ms Drake was a 2005 Fulbright-Hays Award recipient, which allowed her to study for a month in Australia last summer. She was among 16 educators chosen from around the country to participate in the 2005 Fulbright-Hays Program in Australia, entitled, “New Country, Old History.”

Ms Drake said with pride, “The Blazing Bell members are active and excel in all aspects of school life: academics, athletics, and the arts. They share the school’s mission of global awareness and community service every time they share their music!”