The Golden Dance - tapestry of story and music August 5, 2007

Spectacular US handbell solo artist Michèle Sharik is raising bronze handbells to the level of high art. Internationally renowned for her graceful and flowing style, she is a leading artist in the genre of acoustic handbell performance; an art that began some 400 years ago and has now developed into a concert performance instrument.

In a performance on Sunday 5th August at 3.00pm at Dunblane Cathedral, Michèle will present "The Golden Dance", a tapestry of story and music woven together in a presentation that takes the listener on a journey from the Renaissance Royal Court to San Francisco’s Golden Gate, and all points in between.

During the concert, this soloist will lift more than 250 pounds of bronze in her own dance-like choreography combining both grace and strength. Michèle will be accompanied by Malcolm C Wilson on Dunblane Cathedral’s Steinway grand.

As a handbell soloist, Sharik performs on three and a half octaves (44 bells) of American-cast Malmark handbells. A visual as well as musical performer, a handbell soloist must combine the fluid grace of a dancer, the musicality of a virtuoso, and the precision of an athlete to perform on this demanding instrument.

Michele studied composition and flute performance at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. She began ringing and directing handbell choirs in 1991 and in January, 2002, joined America's premier professional classical handbell ensemble, Sonos. In addition to touring internationally with Sonos, she now teaches handbell technique. She serves as Director of Handbells for two San Francisco Bay Area churches. As a Handbell Solo Artist, she is increasingly in demand to take the stage across the United States, Canada and abroad. This performance will be her second concert at the historic Dunblane Cathedral. She has recently released her first full-length solo CD, Chimera. Along with a new class of gifted musicians, Michèle is dedicated to presenting solo handbells as a concert instrument on a par with flute, harp, or piano.

Admission Free - donations invited.