Bells_on_Temple_Square
Bells at Temple Square
Musical artist
The Bells at Temple Square (formerly known as the Bells on Temple Square) is a handbell choir that is an official music organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was formed in 2005 under the direction of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Choir).[1] The group is a double handbell choir, performing with 27 to 35 ringers on two sets of Malmark handbells (one seven-octave set and one 6½ octave set) and two sets of Malmark handchimes (six octaves each). The octave two bells are Malmark aluminums. Each part is usually doubled (played by two ringers on separate sets), except octave two.
The Bells at Temple Square frequently accompanies the Choir in their Christmas concerts and on the weekly Music and the Spoken Word radio and television broadcast.[2] Additionally, the group performs its own semi-annual concerts, typically in November[3] and June.[4]
The Bells on Temple Square was selected to perform the closing concert at the 2017 National Seminar for the Handbell Musicians of America, held in Anaheim, CA.[5] The choir was also selected to perform at the 2023 National Seminar for the Handbell Musicians of America, held in Irving, Texas.[6]
On May 8, 2020, it was announced that the Bells on Temple Square would now be known as the Bells at Temple Square, in accordance with the Choir's new visual identity.[7]
Thomas M. Waldron served as the group's first conductor from 2005 thru 2011. LeAnna Willmore succeeded him in 2011 after serving as the associate director since 2005. She is the current conductor.[8] Geoff Anderson has served as the associate conductor of the Bells at Temple Square since 2017.[9]
