The music bell performance team ‘JAL Bell Star,’ formed by volunteer cabin attendants from Japan Airlines (JAL), is currently rehearsing for their concert series to be held nationwide during the Christmas season.
The activities of JAL Bell Star began in 1995, marking this year their 30th anniversary. Every year, a team of 8 volunteer cabin attendants is formed to perform at various airports throughout the country during the Christmas season. Although members usually change every year, one member continues to participate in the next year as well, acting as a leader to pass on their know-how to new members.
▲Ms. Mina Tsutsumi (left), who serves as the leader for the second consecutive year, and Ms. Yoshiko Nomura, the sub-leader
Exceptionally this year, Mina Tsutsumi and Yoshiko Nomura are participating for the second consecutive year. Ms. Tsutsumi, who was last year’s leader, continues her role this year, with Ms. Nomura supporting as the sub-leader. The members of 2023 were mainly composed of those who had fewer opportunities to perform in 2022 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the third participation for both Ms. Tsutsumi and Ms. Nomura.
The other six members are new participants, chosen from over 20 applicants, which was about three times the number of available spots. The team is comprised of members with rich musical experience, capable of playing the piano, clarinet, flute, and more. Ms. Tsutsumi mentions, “We strive to create an atmosphere where everyone can feel comfortable participating in the team.” They value calling each other by names and expressing gratitude among colleagues during regular flights, a practice they also implement in Bell Star activities.
▲Ms. Tsutsumi leading the team as its leader
This year’s activities started on October 1st, and by the 6th practice session on November 7th, all members performed three songs together: “Joy to the World,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Silent Night.” “The first full team practice was during our third session, and even by that stage, the songs were already well put-together,” Ms. Tsutsumi commented, surprised at the new members’ quick learning. They are currently polishing their performance to make it visually attractive through smiles and eye contact. In the upcoming concerts, besides performing Christmas songs for the first time as JAL Bell Star, they plan to showcase up to twelve songs, including an original medley of Disney songs arranged by the members.
▲This year, all 70 music bells were newly purchased. “The sound is completely different. They also shine beautifully when lit up,” says Ms. Tsutsumi.
Concerts are scheduled from December 3rd to Christmas Day, December 25th, at various locations nationwide including Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba in Tokyo’s Odaiba area, as well as Sapporo, Hakodate, Akita, and Oita, over a total of seven days. Additionally, in a first-time attempt, an event where attendees can enjoy close-up performances while dining on business class in-flight meals from medium-haul international flights, offered at a training facility mock-up at Haneda Airport, will be held on November 28th.
This year’s performance theme, chosen by all members, is “BE JOYFUL! – Weaving Sparkling Music Together.” They aim to create a concert where the audience can enjoy the music together, truly embodying the word “music.” “This year marks the 30th anniversary. We want to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported us through these years with the eight of us,” Ms. Tsutsumi shared about her dedication to practice.
▲Each member is responsible for 2 to 6 bells per song, checking which bells they need for each piece
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This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
