Page 7 - ION Indie Magazine November December 2019 Issue

PETER ORULLIAN

The Bell Ringer

A Holiday Rock Opera

“A Young Mother’s Wish”
Music from The Bell Ringer
Written by Peter Orullian
Vocals by Nikki Gonzalez

Interview by Kiki Plesha
Studio Photography by Neil Lim Sang
Live Performance Photography by Savannah Bright

“The bell ringer hadn't a thing to give
He was just willing to stand in the cold
And hear every story of suffering
And offer the best self he knows”
~ From “Gift of Self” The Bell Ringer

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“It’s A Wonderful Life.” “Miracle on 34 Street.” “A Christmas Carol.” All of these iconic
Christmas movies have stood the test of time. Every holiday season, I make it a point to
watch at least one of these, if not all. The stories are centered around themes of faith,
hope, and love…and that anything is possible if you just BELIEVE in the magic of
Christmas.

No matter your religious convictions, the Christmas season is a time when we tend

to take a step back and re-evaluate our lives. We treat each other a little kinder and
are a bit more generous. Sure, it can also be stressful with so many demands to
meet in order to create the illusion of holiday perfection for our families. This is self-
imposed, however, and with all of the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to lose sight of the
Christmas message of peace and tranquility.

Christmas and music go hand in hand. Thus, over the years, we’ve

featured many different music-related holiday events in the pages of ION
Indie Magazine, including one of my personal favorites, the spectacular
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. So, when an announcement regarding the
upcoming tour of a holiday rock opera, The Bell Ringer, came across my
desk and just happened to have TSO members involved in the project, it
immediately caught my eye. Thus, I reached out to author/composer
Peter Orullian to learn more about The Bell Ringer and the man that
created it.