Ratiboř

During January, we started planning concerts for the whole year. We had to move the concerts from last year to this year, because the bells are most interested in Advent. Appointments were filling up and were filled immediately. After a long break, we met in May to film a concert for the Literary Spring in Vsetín. Our annual camp was held in July, where we celebrated 10 years of existence of our ensemble. We reminisced about the beginnings, showed each other photos and we all watched with astonishment how far we had come. In ten years, this ensemble played 241 concerts and performances at events. Due to the situation related to the pandemic, there were not many concerts either last year or this year. Over the years, we had the opportunity to look into various corners of the Czech Republic, Europe, and America.

We have to be proud that we have accomplished a lot in just 10 years, which is not much. We hope that the next 10 years will develop better than the situation is developing now. We played the first concert this year, with the participation of the audience, in Ratiboř at the end of the camp. There is nothing more amazing and special than seeing the audience sitting in front of us. One feels and sees the support in their eyes while playing. A glockenspiel from Hungary came to see us at this concert, with whom we plan to cooperate next year. In September, we played three concerts in Hradčany near Přerov, in Martínkov (we moved this concert to 4 times) and the last one in Vsetín at Valašský szályní.

The Advent season seemed very busy, so we did not hesitate and started practicing Christmas songs. Unfortunately, as no one wished, the concerts began to be cancelled. We played our first and last concert in front of an audience in the village of Číměř u Třebíče. But you didn't miss out on the annual "Urbi et Orbi" concert. It was broadcast again, just like last year, on our Facebook pages and also on the information channels of Kateřinice and Ratiboř. Our group has 22 members, unfortunately the covid situation did not help us and many members stopped coming to the group. The older group is led by Emílie Adámková and the younger Andrea Kubíčková. Members of the older group are: Dominika Muchová, Lucie Rybnikářová, Zuzana Vítková, Veronika Konvičná, Pavlína Valchářová, Kristýna Malovaná, Tereza Barvíková, Nikol Veselá, Kateřina Valchářová, Petra Malovaná, Hana Malovaná and Klára Malcharcziková. Members of the younger group are: Veronika Bravencová, Daniela Koňaříková, Eva Vrajová, Jana Hrušková, Markéta Zubíčková, Michal Děckuláček, Natálie Janírková, Vanessa Vaculíková.

As members are decreasing, we need and are looking for new people to join our team. The best opportunity is the camp, where we can get to know each other better, learn new things and help each other get started. If you are interested, register for the camp. We believe that a good time will finally come and the Americans will come to us. Bells joined the "Valaši sa ucija" project. Thanks to this project, we can learn new things, for example: baking delicious friggles from our lady Kamasová, painting with children's book illustrator Vlasta Švejdová, a photography course, making bracelets from leather, sewing bags, creating from ceramics, learning something about health science and many other things .

Big thanks go to Martina Valůšková, who leads this project. This year we managed to close the Erasmus+ project. The resulting video of this project can be viewed on our Facebook page. We would like to thank everyone who collaborated on this project, helped us with administration, creating photos, videos, etc. Our clubhouse is under construction and we hope to actively use it next year. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this build, and we will be happy for any additional contribution. The account number is 2400874232/2010. And the last thanks goes to all of you who support us, go to our concerts, make financial donations or organize various collections for us. Thank you! We wish you a blessed Christmas full of joy, happiness and health into the new year. Behind the Bells Good News Andrea Kubickova