Ms Elizabeth MacLaren, from Nova Scotia, who has performed extensively in Canada and the US, is mostly in demand at special church services, but she has also played at music festivals, conventions and banquets.

Last year, she was invited to play for the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien, when he visited her home town of Truro. This July, she will have an audience of 7,000 people as the featured soloist at the opening ceremonies of an international convention in Halifax.

The art of handbell ringing, which is gaining in popularity throughout North America, requires meticulous precision, as the soloist often handles as many as 30 bells during any one performance, with some of them weighing a hefty 18 pounds.

Typically, these are laid out on a table and the ringer moves up and down, selecting different bells as the music dictates. The technical goal is to achieve absolute legato style, keeping the phrases smooth and connected, but with no breaks between notes and no note being allowed to echo into the sound of the next one.

Ms MacLaren, who will be playing during the Matins service on Sunday, will be joined by Bermuda's Youth Bell Choir, formed some three years ago by well-known musician and teacher, Lloyd Matthew. This choir comprises students from four schools -- Southampton Glebe, Elliott, Bermuda Institute and Berkeley Institute.

Recently, the young ringers took part in a special workshop conducted by Dr.

Larry Smith, associate professor of the University of Mississippi.

Mrs. Jean Motyer, choir director and organist at St. Mark's, has arranged Ms MacLaren's visit to Bermuda.

Noting the revival of interest in this ancient art, Mrs. Motyer says: "Mr.

Matthew has very kindly said that he would be happy to start up a handbell choir at St. Mark's. We need about 20 people to volunteer, so I would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in joining the group.'' Mrs. Motyer can be reached at 295-2834.

This Sunday's performance at St. Mark's begins at 10.30 a.m.