Two of Russellville’s most talented musical groups—the United Methodist Temple Handbell Choir and the Fox family—have combined for a dynamic presentation that has been heard and seen in Louisville this week and is scheduled for a performance in Russellville Sunday.
The handbell choir on Tuesday performed “I Am Dancing,” composed by Russellville’s Jeffrey Fox, at the University of Louisville’s Comstock Recital Hall, part of the Louisville School of Music. As part of the same event, he and his sister, Sarah Fox, performed another of Jeffrey’s compositions, “The End.”
The evening was designed to showcase U of L’s student composers. Jeffrey Fox is a double major in biology and music composition at the university.
Sarah Fox was the equivalent of valedictorian at Western Kentucky University and earned her masters degree in choral conducting from the University of Birmingham in England while studying as a Fullbright Scholar. She now works at Trinity Episcopal Church in Russellville.
Their mother, Susan Fox, is an accomplished musician herself and is a member of the handbell choir.
Susan Allpress, who teaches music in the Russellville schools, accompanied the handbell choir on flute while Sarah Fox was the pianist.
In the accompanying photos of the program for the Louisville concert, Jeffrey explains the intricate skills and cooperation involved in handbell performances, and he talks about his thought processes in creating both musical compositions. Those pieces of prose are worthy of reading, just as are his compositions worthy of being heard.
Russellvillians will get a chance to do the hearing this Sunday when Jeffrey and Sarah Fox join the handbell choir in a performance at the United Methodist Temple on the corner of South Main and East Seventh streets.
The choir is an ecumenical group. Marguerite Kirkpatrick and Nancy Powell are members of First Baptist Church just down the street, Tom O’Kelley is from nearby First Presbyterian, and Tera Ragland from Southern Heights Baptist Church.
Shown in the photo, from left, are Susan Allpress, flute; Sarah Fox, piano; Handbell Choir: John Allpress, Susan Fox, Joan Ferris, Michelle Johns, Marguerite Kirkpatrick, Tom O’Kelley, Geri Olson, Nancy Powell, Tera Ragland, Melynda Riley, Betty Sayre, Darla Sparks and Jane Vick.