Retired professor has a hand in breaking music record

A retired Simpson University professor recently teamed up with 633 other musicians to set a world record: largest handbell choir.

Lois Nichols, a former music professor, traveled to the Mall of America in Minneapolis to join in the event, which combined players from the Salvation Army and the Handbell Musicians of America. They needed at least 531 handbell musicians to break the previous record, set in Japan in 2013.

"It was quite a grand experience to participate in the Guinness Book of World Records attempt for most handbells ringing at one time,” Nichols said.

Once they finished their performance, a medley of "Carol of the Bells" and "Silver Bells," the group had to wait "a few excruciating minutes" for a panel of judges to announce the new record.

“This was met with shouts of joy, mass random excited ringing of bells, and streamers being shot out of cannons raining down on us,” Nichols recalled. “It was very exciting, and we were glad to have been able to participate.”