Welcome!

Join us for Read & Ring 2023!

Read & Ring

Update: We have changed the location of this event. See below.
We had a terrific turnout and a wonderful time at last year’s event as we emerged from the long pandemic period, and we want to keep the momentum going to benefit as many handbell ensembles and individual ringers in our area as possible! So we’d love to see you at Read & Ring 2023, happening on Saturday, Aug. 19 in Vancouver, WA.

Handbell directors and ringers will be given an opportunity to read through music for all seasons, decide what you like, and purchase music at a discount for your choir to use during the year. Bring your choir or come alone and meet new people!

Early Bird registration, through Monday, Aug. 7, is just $30 per person. After Aug. 7, registration is $45 per person. NOTE: Unlike previous years, we are not offering a “group of 5 = sixth person free” option, as we are asking each attendee to register individually this year. Click the link below for more details.

Learn more about Read & Ring 2023 and register today.


View our Spring 2023 concert!

Our Spring concert season, with the theme “From Sea to Skye,” was memorable and wonderful in every way, especially since our Saturday, June 3, 2023 concert at Salmon Creek United Methodist Church featured a surprise for our director, Matthew Compton, by not one, but TWO handbell choirs playing a commissioned piece in his honor. We were joined by the Exultation Ringers from that church, to play “Inspiring Presence” by Alex Guebert. We invite you to watch how we bring Matt to tears and honor him for the very inspiring presence he has been in all of our lives!

 

Get involved in Bells of the Cascades!

Bells of the Cascades

Passionate about innovative, advanced handbell ringing in the Portland area? We want your help!
 

Audition!

Calling all Bronze-level ringers! What do you do on Tuesday evenings? We are always looking for experienced and versatile ringers who would consider joining Bells of the Cascades.

Interested? Fill out our audition application form. If you have any questions, you can write to membership@bellsofthecascades.org.
 

Join the board of directors

We’re always looking for new folks to help guide our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, whether you’re a director of a church or community ensemble, a ringer yourself, or simply a supporter of the musical arts.

While fundraising and budgeting is a big part of the board’s role, we’re also looking for people with experience in event organizing, communications, grantwriting, and strategic planning. No prior board experience necessary. Members of our board are not paid in money but in camaraderie, love for one another, and satisfaction in advancing the art of handbell music.

Interested? Send an email to president@bellsofthecascades.org and we’ll be in touch!
 

Volunteer as a substitute ringer

As we know you understand, a handbell ensemble is one instrument played by several people, and when one person has to miss a rehearsal the instrument simply isn’t complete!

We’re looking for ringers who have some experience playing intermediate or advanced-level handbell music and are willing to be on call (with advance notice) to step in when we need a substitute ringer for Tuesday evening rehearsals. This is also a great way to get to know the ensemble if you’d like to explore the possibility of auditioning in the future.

If you’d like to volunteer, please email director@bellsofthecascades.org and we’ll put you on the list!

 

Voyages: In Search of Peace

Bells of the Cascades was invited to perform at the 2021 national convention of the Handbell Musicians of America in Phoenix, Arizona, along with Cathedral Bells of Orange, California.

The video of our performance at this event is not currently available due to copyright reasons, but the responses from those who attended were extremely gratifying! We were thrilled at how moved the audience was by the music we made with Cathedral Bells. Here are some examples of what people wrote to us.

The following night we presented the same concert in California. Here is the video of that performance.