Music from the past 100 years will be featured at the next public performance by Decibells, a handbell ensemble based in Lake County. Decibells’ spring concert, titled “Decades,” will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. May 3 at Chapel United Methodist Church, 2019 Hubbard Road in Madison Township. “We chose ‘Decades’ because handbells have been around for decades, having been brought to the US around 1902,” said Martha DiLorenzo, founder and director of Decibells. “We will demonstrate the earliest form of handbell ringing — change ringing — and play songs that represent the decades since.” The concert will feature songs such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” which originally was released in 1941; “Viva la Vida” from 2008; “California Dreamin’ ” from 1965; and “Stairway to Heaven” from 1971. Admission to the concert is free, and the church is accessible to people with disabilities. Decibells holds all of its practice sessions and concerts at Chapel UMC, since it borrows the church’s handbells. The group is only permitted to use the handbells inside the church. However, Decibells is getting ready to purchase its own set of handbells this summer, DiLorenzo said. “We are very close to having the money (to buy handbells),” she said. Decibells, a nonprofit organization, has been raising funds to purchase its own handbells since DiLorenzo launched the group about 2 1/2 years ago. The group has accepted financial donations for bells at its concerts and received additional contributions through an online fundraising campaign and other sources. In addition, Decibells conducted a fundraising event last summer at the Painesville Township Park Community Center, which included food, music and a raffle to win gift baskets. Decibells will return to Painesville Township Park Community Center this summer for a similar fundraising program, which is slated from 5 to 7 p.m. June 19. DiLorenzo formed Decibells after being inspired by the music she heard at a handbell festival in Cleveland. She also possesses the qualifications to organize and lead the new musical outfit, thanks to nearly 30 years of experience as a handbell ringer in a local church group. Decibells is a 16-member ensemble, consisting of 15 ringers and DiLorenzo as director. “When I think back to November 2022, when we started with four ringers, it seems like decades ago,” DiLorenzo said. “We were only able to play two octaves of bells, then we got a few more ringers and added another octave, until now with five octaves and 15 ringers.” DiLorenzo said Decibells have truly gelled as a team. “Their skills were good to begin with, but now they are at a much higher level,” she said. For more information about Decibells, call 440-231-3144 or email decibellslake@gmail.com. ...read more read less