World Photo by Lou Sennick Wilber Jensen plays his trumpet as the Bay Area Community Band rehearses for Thursday night's holiday concert at the Presbyterian Church in North Bend.

For a season synonymous with sleigh bells, Christmas carols need a healthy serving of jingling and chiming.

That’s what the Bay Area Concert Band’s director promises, as the band goes into full Christmas mode for its concert next week. The percussion section will be in the spotlight.

“It helps with the flavor and the overall holiday feeling,” Director Mark Allen said.

So Allen picked traditional standards and some fun arrangements featuring bells, chimes, triangles and more for Thursday’s concert. One of his favorites, “Froehliche Weihnachten,” features five or six percussion parts. There was just one problem.

“We have one drummer,” Allen explained.

But the Bay Area Concert Band is a resourceful bunch, so when Allen asked for volunteers from the brass and woodwind sections, there were several takers.

Nancy Keller was one of them. The Coquille physician traded in her clarinet for a triangle, which she found to be too easy. So she tried out the chimes.

“It’s hard. It’s a whole different experience than being in the clarinet section,” she said.

Unlike her woodwind instrument, Keller can’t take the chimes home with her to practice. Instead, she’s been going to Coquille High School, where music director Chris Schlievert has let her use his band’s instrument.

“I’ve been in the school at midnight,” she said. “Surprised the janitor a time or two.”

Sean Kelly is another honorary percussionist for the holiday show. The Southwestern Oregon Community College sophomore saw it as a chance to expand his musical experience, especially since he was sharing his part with another trumpet.

“It’s just kind of a spontaneous sort of thing,” he said.

He’s got a triangle part, which he describes as monotonous but fun.

Keller has a different take on playing chimes. It’s a workout.

“It’s biceps city doing those chimes!” she said.

It’s a memory workout, too, she said, because she can’t play the chimes and look at the music at the same time.

“You have to practically memorize three or four measures,” she said. “Those percussionists have to do a lot of concentrating.”

Still, Keller is glad she volunteered. “I like to fill a need.”

And Allen appreciates the work all the volunteer percussionists have put in.

“They are doing just great,” he said.

The performance also will feature several ensemble groups. They include the Sweet and Low Sax Quartet playing “The Wassail Song” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas;” the Brass Quintet playing “A Christmas Jazz Suite;” the Magnificent Seven, a collection of euphoniums and tubas, playing “A Christmas Gathering” and “You made Me Love You,” as well as flute and clarinet groups playing “March of the Toys,” “Here We Come A-Caroling” and “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.”

Want to go?

What: Bay Area Concert Band holiday concert.

When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4.

Where: North Bend First Presbyterian Church, 2238 Pony Creek Road.

Cost: Admission is free, though donations are accepted.