From handbells to vocal choirs, from the secular to the sacred, holiday music is in the air.

We’re not talking the schlocky canned stuff played over tinny department store speakers; we’re talking the real thing: classical musicians in classy tuxedos, choral groups in regal robes and holiday finery.

There are four notable community music events this weekend, in addition to the countless holiday concerts and pageants playing out at area churches between now and Christmas.

Three of the events take place Dec. 17: “Christmas Presence” with Bells of the Sound, “Tis the Season” by the Puget Soundsters and “Heavenly Holidays” with the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Chorale.

Sunday’s concert choice is Lyrica, Ladies Choral Ensemble of Puget Sound in Port Orchard.

Bells of the Sound is a handbell choir whose 14 members live in the Puget Sound region, and have taken the handbell beyond the realm of holiday music. There is now popular music composed specifically for handbells, and the group performs at a variety of venues including Benaroya Hall and with the Seattle Men’s Chorus.

If you’ve never seen a handbell choir in action, it is not to be missed. With a wide assortment of bells of all different sizes in front of them, the bellringers move from one bell to the next, never missing a beat or a note. Each bell only rings one note at a time, so you can imagine how much shaking it takes to produce an entire song.

Bellringer Jennifer Vangolen said it can be difficult for musicians trained to play an entire line themselves to adapt to the group structure, with the song running around the room among the ringers.

“It’s really a team sport,” she said.

The effect is stunning, like standing in a plaza surrounded by precisely tuned church bells.

Vangolen said in fact handbells are an offshoot of the old English practice of “change ringing,” in which church bell ringers in a town would ring their bells to create a unified tune. But, the practicing got annoying for the villagers, so the church bell ringers created smaller bells for practicing.

Bellringing might have remained a quaint Old World practice were it not for infamous showman P.T. Barnum. Vangolen said he is credited with importing a bellringing group to the United States for his circus, complete with kitschy Bavarian costumes. Not historically accurate, but more picturesque than English peasant garb no doubt.

There will not be Bavarian costumes at Saturday’s performance, but it will be quite a show.

Bells of the Sound performs 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Lincoln Avenue Bible Church, 1250 Lincoln Ave., Bremerton.

The program includes holiday favorites such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Away in the Manger,” and “Up on the Housetop.”

There is no admission price, but a free-will offering will be taken.

Symphony and Chorale concert

The 120-musician joint Bremerton Symphony and Concert Chorale “Heavenly Holidays” concert promises to be a dynamic event, under the direction of Music Director Elizabeth Stoyanovich and Choral Director LeeAnne Campos, even though there are just two pieces on the program. The two groups unite to perform Mozart’s “Mass in C Minor,” and the program finishes with the symphony playing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.

Campos said the “Mass in C Minor” is the most difficult Mozart piece she has ever performed.

“There’s constant movement. It’s like the old joke, there’s too many notes,” she said.

The concert takes place Dec. 17 at the Bremerton Performing Arts Center at Bremerton High School, 1500 13th St., Bremerton. Stoyanovich starts the evening with a pre-concert chat at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $22 adults and seniors, $10 youth, available at (360) 373-1722 or online at www.bremertonsymphony.org. Tickets are also available at the box office one hour before the concert.

Concertgoers are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots.

Vocal locals

The Puget Soundsters are a group of local folks who have been singing four-part harmony for decades. They ought to be pretty good by now, but you can hear for yourself at their “Tis the Season” concert, 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church, 403 Summit Ave., Bremerton.

The group keeps busy singing around Kitsap County at private and public events, from assisted living centers to the Kitsap Mall. Members range in age from their 30s up to 70 plus, and all come together for the joy of singing.

An offering will be taken and refreshments will be served.

Lyrica,

Ladies Choral Ensemble concert

Dec. 18 LeeAnne Campos changes hats slightly, stepping up to lead Lyrica, Ladies Choral

Ensemble in its annual Christmas concert, featuring carols such as “O Come O Come Emanuel” and “The Angel Gabriel,” alternating with two narrations of the story of the birth of Christ.

Thelma Ramos reads the biblical account, while Walter Briggs reads a version written by Charles Dickens.

Campos said the audience is encouraged to sing along with the familiar carols, and in fact she will be conducting the audience to encourage participation.

“It gets everyone involved,” she said. “I think the audience really appreciates being part of what’s happening.”

The Lyrica concert takes place at 5 p.m. at St. Gabriel Church, 1150 Mitchell Ave., Port Orchard.

A free-will offering will be accepted to benefit the South Kitsap Family Kitchen.