HANDBELL ringers from Nudgee Junior College, Indooroopilly, will pit their musical talents against the world’s best this week.
The 12th International Handbell Symposium will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from August 2-5. The Nudgee Junior College Ensemble is the only primary school participating.
During the symposium, Brisbane will host 600 handbell ringers and vibrate to the sound of 2500 bells.
Handbell ringers will travel from 10 countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan and Puerto Rico.
It is only the second time the symposium has been held in the southern hemisphere and for the first time in its history there will be a youth strand with 100 youth from Australia and Singapore.
The Nudgee Junior College Ensemble consists of 15 Year 7 students with another 11 former students in secondary school performing as the Nudgee Junior College Old Boys’ Ensemble.
Handbell ringing was introduced to Nudgee Junior College several years ago via a set of handbells on loan from the Handbell Society of Australasia.
The program proved so popular with both students and parents that the college purchased its own set of bells in January 2004.
The handbells now form a key part of the college’s music curriculum.
