HPA Middle School rings in the holidays with free public performances

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WAIMEA — The Hawaii Preparatory Academy Middle School Handbell Choir, under the direction of Georgia Polakova, will perform in Waimea over two holiday weekends in December.

WAIMEA — The Hawaii Preparatory Academy Middle School Handbell Choir, under the direction of Georgia Polakova, will perform in Waimea over two holiday weekends in December.

The first show will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at Parker Ranch Tree Lighting at Puu Opelu. At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, they will perform at Waimea Farmers Market at Parker School, and at 11 a.m. on Sunday Parker Ranch Shopping Center Food Court.

The following weekend, they will perform at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 10 at Waimea Farmers Market at Pukalani Stables. That afternoon, the choir will continue their performance at 4 p.m. at Queens’ Marketplace in Waikoloa, and at 6 p.m. at Hilton Waikoloa Village.

The handbell choir consists of 19 students who play for seven weeks, usually performing after only four weeks of rehearsal. This year, the choir acquired three octaves of handbell chimes and mallets, which will be featured for the first time in the holiday performances.

“The handchimes and mallets have enhanced our music program tremendously,” said Polakova. “They add different dimensions and texture to the music by layering and/or featuring the unique sounds, while adding variety and new challenges for the students. We are quite excited to perform this season with them.”

The Middle School Handbell Choir’s first CD, “A Ka Makani Christmas,” will be available for $10 at all performances, at the HPA Student Store, HPA Village Campus office and Isaacs Art Center. All proceeds benefit the HPA Middle School Handbell Choir.

Info: Call 885-2500 or 885-2501