Registration for BellFest! with Matthew Compton is OPEN!!
Click here to register either as an individual ringer or as a whole choir for only $35/ringer or the student rate of $20/ringer! If you have any questions, reach out to bellfest@bellsofthelakes.org.
Bells of the Lakes 30th Ringing Season!
Jordan Buchholtz has been involved in handbell choirs since her teenage years. She is currently the Principal Organist and Pianist at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and the Director of Handbells there as well. This is her first year ringing with Bells of the Lakes.
Megan Brozenec has been playing bells since she was 8 years old, and is very excited to be ringing in bells of the lakes for the first time this year! When not playing bells, she works as a Software Engineer.
Jennifer Cadwell has been ringing handbells for over 35 years and directs the handbells at Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis. Handbells are where she finds joy!
Cynthia Clanton discovered handbells as an adult, adding a fascinating new musical chapter to her previous experience as a church organist, band and orchestra member, and so much more!
Erik Freed is a returning bass ringer in his 10th season with Bells of the Lakes. He enjoys waterskiing, campfires, board games, and sharing life with his wife and two daughters. Erik works as a principal software engineer at Boston Scientific.
Laura Goulding is thrilled to be ringing her third year with Bells of the Lakes. She’s also a longtime ringer with Hennepin Chime. This season, she moved down to bass bells and is excited to learn and develop her skills in this area.
Kristin (KJ) Johnson joined Bells of the Lakes in 2019. She picked up bell ringing as a way to continue making music after her drum corps days were over.
Eric Kvasnicka is in his third year ringing with Bells of the Lakes. He began ringing during his first year at St. Olaf College and rang for all four years of college, although his senior year was cut short because of the pandemic.
Martha Mathis has nearly life-long experience with handbells. In fact, she started ringing at age 6 as a member of the Mathis Family Ringers.
Whitney Nagel has been ringing handbells since she was 11 years old and has rung in various groups in addition to some solo and small ensemble ringing.
Akudo Omeoga is in her fourth year with Bells of the Lakes. She enjoys being the Twin Cities Sub Area Chair for Area 7, watch out for tons of emails about hand bells in the Twin Cities!
Laurie Pyle has been ringing handbells for over 40 years, and still enjoys every minute! She is supported by an understanding family that includes her husband and daughter, who both play bells. Laurie is the President of Bells of the Lakes.
Bridget Rands is a third-generation handbell ringer who started her ringing career in high school. Bridget played with Bethel University for 5 years until she joined Bells of the Lakes.
Krista Riedel began ringing handbells 30 years ago and has never looked back! An active musician, she is a solo handbell ringer, flutist, pianist, and vocalist.
Kristyn Svoboda has been ringing since college, discovering handbells as a student at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Some of her favorite things are puppies, chocolate and video games!
Laura Wahl has a lifelong enjoyment of playing handbells. She says the best parts of ringing in a handbell choir are being part of the community, having fun and making beautiful music together.
Scott Ward admits he started ringing bells in 1985 to meet women – and it worked! He met his wife, Deb, at an area handbell festival in Fargo a year later, and they have been ringing together in church bell choirs since then.
William H. Mathis, Musical Director, “retired” from a 50-year career in church music and has continued as an active clinician in both the choral and handbell fields, giving special emphasis to teaching rehearsal technique and musicianship.
Please return for more information on our concerts, BellFest, and other events! Thank you to all who have made it a wonderful 30 years! Cheers to 30 more!
Check out our shops page for more information about our merchandise.
20th Anniversary CD
The 2015-2016 season marked the 20th year Bells of the Lakes had been ringing together. To celebrate, the bell choir performed a 20th Anniversary Concert and released a CD showcasing several outstanding pieces it has performed.
To purchase this CD, and more, visit our shops page.
Bells of the Lakes is a community handbell ensemble located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota directed by William H. Mathis, a nationally known conductor and arranger of handbell and choral music. It is a proud member of the Handbell Musicians of America and supports the work and activities of Area 7.
