On Tuesday, November 9, Campana, Embellish’s companion ensemble, will present a mini-concert at 7 p.m. in Kretschmer Recital Hall in the Aquinas Art and Music Center. Embellish, a community handbell ensemble operating out of the greater Grand Rapids area, is in its fourth year of partnership with Campana. Tuesday’s event is free and open to the public.

Embellish encompasses a number of smaller ensembles. As well as Campana, a group that allows local ringers to perform together in a relaxed environment, Embellish includes Bellistic, a group geared toward 8th-12th graders. Ringlets, an Embellish outreach program, introduces young children to the art of handbell ringing and works to instill an enduring appreciation of music.

Following Campana’s mini-concert, Embellish will hold an open rehearsal from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. As it is an informal event, audience members are free to come and go as they please.

Founded in 1995 by Carl Wiltse, Embellish is a nonprofit organization originally comprised of several experienced handbell ringers looking for a venue in which to perform more challenging music for the community. Every June, Embellish holds auditions for people interested in being a part of the fifteen-member group. Since 1999, Embellish has been under the leadership of Stephanie Wiltse.

In addition to being a founding member of Embellish, Wiltse has directed Aquinas College’s Valenti Handbell Ensemble since 1998 and was appointed director of the Calvin College Handbell Ensemble in 2001. She has chaired the Grand Rapids District of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers for several years. Wiltse recently began overseeing a program made up of three choirs in her role as Director of Handbells for LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church.

Over the last fifteen years, Ensemble has performed all across the country and even completed a 2006 concert tour in France. The ensemble is proud to have hosted Bronzefest 2010, an annual event for upper-level ringers. This year, Embellish earned the honor of becoming the official recording group for GIA Publications, Inc. The ensemble will record demo CDs for the company’s yearly handbell music catalog. Embellish currently features two albums of music on their website, Embellish the Season and The Colors of Bronze.

Embellish has had a longstanding, positive relationship with the Aquinas community. For the past six years, Embellish has stored equipment, rehearsed, and performed in the Aquinas Art and Music Center. The ensemble is forever appreciative of Aquinas’ hospitality and generous assistance in their endeavors.