BECA Professor Plays in SFSU Handbell Choir

There she was - the media lawyer and BECA faculty member - holding two bells with tie-dyed, green-and-red gloves and looking studiously down at music as she stood with eight other musicians in an old court room on the second floor of the original San Mateo County Courthouse. Professor Miriam Smith and the rest of the SFSU Handbell Choir played a concert in the old courthouse - now the county's historical museum - in Redwood City on December 6th. What a delightful concert it was, too, with holiday music from England, Poland, Russia, France and the U.S.! Led by SFSU Librarian Caroline Harnly, the group rehearses one evening a week and performs around the university - and around the Bay Area - throughout the year. Professor Smith has been a member of the choir since shortly after arriving in the BECA Department some years ago. Librarian Laura Moody, now the library liaison to the BECA Department, also plays handbells for the choir. The concert ended with the audience being given music and hand chimes; we tried to sing familiar carols and play the chimes at the same time - a bit challenging for this audience member - but certainly a great way to start off the season. Now I have a much greater appreciation for the many talents of our own Professor Miriam Smith. Catch a concert when the group plays at a venue near you!