2011-2012 Bells of the Lakes Members:
 Bells of the Lakes Director William H. Mathis is Minister of Music and Fine Arts at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. In addition to his work at church, Bill is an active clinician in both the choral and handbell fields, giving special emphasis to teaching rehearsal technique and musicianship. He has been the conductor of AGEHR’s National Festivals and Directors’ Seminar, as well as many events at the local and regional levels. Bill is the founding music director of Bells of the Lakes. His compositions are found in the catalogs of thirteen publishers, and his 3-volume series of books on the creative use of handbells in worship (After the Prelude) is published by Choristers Guild. |
 Nathan Burrows (bio coming soon!) |
 Jennifer Cadwell started ringing at Christ UMC in Rochester under the direction of her mom in 1987 and has since been ringing in ensembles in Des Moines, St. Louis, and Northern California. She attended Drake University in Des Moines and received her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance. She then received her Master of Music in Piccolo Performance at Webster University in St. Louis. Jennifer is also an active vocalist performing as a soloist and in ensembles. Currently, Jennifer is the Director of the Handbell Program at the University of St. Thomas, and directs the bell program and children’s choirs at Centennial UMC in Roseville. Jennifer and her husband, Jeff, have a young daughter, Genevieve. |
 Erik Freed studied piano, harpsichord and double bass as a child (from his parents). He played in the Prometheus Academy Chamber Orchestra for 15 years. He has also played double bass for weddings, dining halls, and academic functions. Erik fell in love with handbells and has played the bass bells for First Baptist Church in Minneapolis since 2005. He has also attended AGEHR Area VII Festivals since 2006. He premiered his first composition, Passacaglia in D-Minor, at the 2008 Festival in Sioux Falls and played in the Bronze Plus choir at the 2010 Festival in Rochester. Erik has been a bass ringer with Bells of the Lakes since 2008 and has served as BellFest! 2010 Chair. During the day, Erik works as a software engineer for a small company specializing in off-road routing and navigation software for both civilian and military use. He enjoys wood-working, windsurfing, wakeboarding, volleyball and wood-burning fireplaces. |
Krista Hasse
 Keith Irwin (bio coming soon!) |
Bridget Lindquist
 Janet Manthey has been ringing handbells since she was nine years old, when she joined the youth bell choir at Church of the Epiphany, Episcopal in Plymouth, MN. She has since moved up to the adult bell choir at Epiphany – Jubellation – and occasionally subs for various bell choirs in the metro area. Janet also played bells at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul for four years, where she graduated with degrees in English and Spanish. Since graduation in 2009, Janet spent a year as an Americorps member (working for the MN Reading corps), and currently works as the Communications Associate for the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. |
 Erika Nelson’s first experience playing music started with the clarinet in 5th grade. She added bells to her musical repertoire during her first semester of college, when her friend (and fellow Bells of the Lakes member) Janet invited her to join a rehearsal. That one rehearsal was all it took, and Erika rang with the University of St. Thomas handbell choir for the rest of her college years. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2009 with degrees in Biology and Spanish, and currently works as a lab tech in Stillwater, MN. When she’s not immersed in music, Erika enjoys traveling, cooking, road trips and playing with her cat, Hamlet. |
 Jan Rasmussen started playing handbells in 1970 when her best friend talked her into joining a youth choir. In 1990 she was asked to join Steeple Bells at her home church, Woodbury UMC, and in 1992 she attended her first handbell festival. The addiction began!Jan organized and directed The Bells Angels, a youth choir at Woodbury UMC, for six years. Her experience as a ringer includes being a charter member of both Twin Cities Handbell Ensemble and Twin Cities Bronze. Besides Bells of the Lakes, she currently rings with Ringers of Peace at Peace UMC, Shoreview and the Carillon Choir at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in East Bethel. Jan is married to a wonderful groupie, Christopher, and has transplanted to Cambridge, MN, where she is able to work on her solo ringing. She has a daughter, RaeAnn (a former Bells Angel), a stepson, Thomas, and two spoiled Siamese cats, May Ling and Pyewacket. In her spare time, Jan collects unicorns and gnomes and enjoys reading science fiction and watching movies. |
 Laurie Pyle has been ringing handbells for 34 years, and still enjoys every minute! She also has directed youth choirs and adult choirs. In addition to Bells of the Lakes, Laurie has been a sub for numerous choirs and ensembles in the Twin Cities for rehearsals and performances. Some of her favorite bell memories are ringing with Hart Morris for the debut of his piece “7/8 Lay them Straight”, playing at Orchestra Hall with Doc Severinsen and the Minnesota Orchestra for the Jingle Bell Doc concerts, and playing a showcase concert at the National Director’s Seminar in San Diego. Laurie also has been playing flute and piccolo since grade school, performing for many weddings, concerts and other assorted performances!! She is supported by an understanding family that includes her husband and young daughter, who already has her own set of bells! |
Laura Wahl
 Scott Ward is a founding member of Bells of the Lakes and has been ringing handbells since 1985. He is an Electrical Engineer and works in the IS department of a defense contractor. He and his wife, Deb, can trace their life milestones via AGEHR Area VII Festivals. They met in 1986 at the Fargo Festival’s opening night mixer. They were engaged before the 1988 Festival in Mankato, married before the 1990 River Falls event and moved into their house before Sioux Falls in 1992. Deb was pregnant for the 1994 Festival in Bemidji and their daughter, Elizabeth, has been attending bell rehearsals ever since. Scott played in the Festival Conference Choir at the 1996 Eau Claire Festival. The 1998 Festival marked yet another Conference Choir and the purchase of his first motorcycle, a 1982 Honda CB750K. At the 2000 St. Cloud Festival, Scott played in both the Conference Choir and the Bells of the Lakes Showcase concert. He played in the first Area VII Bronze Plus Choir in 2002 at La Crosse and records the purchase of his next motorcycle, a 1981 Honda CB900C. At the 2004 Duluth Festival, Scott was again a member of the Bronze Plus Choir. Scott has since replaced both motorcycles with a 2006 Kawasaki Concours. He and Deb both ring with the Beautiful Savior Adult Handbell Choir, JuBELLation, Scott plays in the Honeywell Concert Band and the Beautiful Savior Woodwind Ensemble, playing the flute and piccolo. |
Christina Wood started ringing in elementary school for her local church. Every year she would look forward to BellFest because it offered challenging music and various genres. She always admired the Bells of the Lakes ringers and wondered if she could ever be good enough to be one ofthem! She auditioned the summer of 2007 and has loved the privilege of being in a distinguished ensemble. Recently, Christina married her wonderful husband Brian Wood (and of course, Bells of the Lakes supplied the ceremony music!). Christina and Brian enjoy hiking, biking, and taking adventures around the world. Christina is serving her second year as President of Bells of the Lakes and looks forward to ringing with the group for many years to come.
Kathy Woods