The University of Southern Mississippi Carillon Handbell Choir will perform on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m., at Fairhope’s Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Founded in 1985, Carillon is celebrating 24 years of excellence in handbell ringing. Carillon consists of 10 to 13 ringers selected annually by campuswide auditions. The ensemble performs 20-25 concerts each year.

Carillon has developed a regional, national and international reputation. Noteworthy performances include appearances at National Directors’ Seminars for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers in Reston, Va., Palm Springs, Calif. and Mobile. The group has toured England, Bermuda, Germany, Japan, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy and 21 U.S. states.

In April 2006, at the invitation of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus, Carillon played solo and joint concerts with the University’s handbell choir and jazz band. Last July, Carillon attended the 2007 European Handbell Festival in Scotland, played a solo concert in Dunkeld (Scotland) Cathedral, as well as participated in two festival concerts in Dunblaine and Dumfermline, Scotland.

This July, Carillon will present a solo concert at the Czech Museum of Music in Prague, Czech Republic and participate in two festival concerts in the 2008 European Handbell Festival in Prague and Vienna, Austria.

Additional information on the handbell choir can be found online at www.usm.edu/music/studios_ensembles/carillon/home/php.

Admission is free, but there will be an opportunity for those who wish to give a free-will donation.

Trinity Presbyterian Church is located on South Mobile Street at Fig Avenue. For more information, call the church office at 928-2524 or visit www.trinitypcusafairhope@cityslides.com.