News

Competition contest finalists

Bells of the Cascades is pleased to announce the five finalists in its 25th Anniversary Composition Contest. The finalists were selected from 21 entries.

The winner of the competition will be announced on April 25 at Bells of the Cascades’ 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert in Portland, Oregon.

Our five finalists:

  • Alex Guebert, Orange, California
  • John Hooper, Edmonton, Alberta
  • Ed Martin, Neenah, Wisconsin
  • Michael Mazzatenta, Corpus Christi, Texas
  • Nathan Whittaker, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Thank you to everyone who submitted entries. We were very pleased with the quality and creativity of the submissions!

Join us for a concert 25 years in the making!

Bells of the Cascades: Celebrating 25 years!

Friends new and old, we hope you’ll join us for our 25th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 PM at Central Lutheran Church in Portland.

Featuring special guests:

  • Handbells Unlimited!, handbell duo
  • Michael Charles Smith, marimba
  • plus former directors Dick Coulter and Kris Sparks
  • and alumni from 25 years of dynamic handbell ringing

View the complete event information, or join the Facebook event and invite your friends. This will be an event you don’t want to miss!

Join us at our 2014 holiday concert Dec. 13!

Jingle All the Way: Bells of the Cascades' 2014 holiday concert!
Marian Singers, St. Mary's Academy

We’re thrilled to invite you to the 2014 Bells of the Cascades holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Northeast Portland, OR: Jingle All the Way!

We’ll be joined by the incredible Marian Singers from St. Mary’s Academy.

Admission is just $10 at the door, with no one turned away due to lack of funds.

Learn more about the event or get directions to the concert.

We hope to see you there!

Remembering Nancy Hascall

Nancy Hascall

Founding member, former director, ringer and friend Nancy Hascall lost her battle with cancer and passed away August 13, 2014, at the family cabin in Idaho, surrounded by family.

Nancy was one of the original members of Bells of the Cascades, and after the retirement of Dick Coulter, became the director for 14 years. She recently returned to Bells of the Cascades as a ringer.

Nancy toured nationally as a handbell solo artist, releasing a solo album, Ringing from the Heart. She was responsible for taking the art of solo ringing to a new level with the development of the technique known as traveling four-in-hand, which allows the solo ringer to ring complex passages with grace and fluidity. Many solo ringers honed their craft during three-day private solo ringing tutorials at her home in Oregon, and she always made herself available to coach an individual or group while on tour.

As a composer, she has many pieces in print for both ensembles and soloists. In addition to her involvement with Bells of the Cascades, Nancy directed the Sanctuary Bells of First United Methodist Church in Portland and rang along with her husband, Glen, in the Covenant Bell Choir at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, where she first picked up a handbell in 1979.

The hearts of all Bells of the Cascades members are heavy as we remember this remarkable woman who graced our lives. Farewell, Nancy.

Nancy’s service will be on Friday, Sept. 19, at 2:00 PM, at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, Lake Oswego, OR.

Nancy performs ‘Waltz in A Minor,’ by Frederic Chopin, at Pinnacle 2010

Join us for our spring concerts: Hitting Things!

Bells of the Cascades presents: Hitting Things!

This spring, Bells of the Cascades is playing two concerts in Oregon — in Portland and Corvallis — hosting a workshop for ringers of all levels, and participating in a special concert event with Fred Gramann. We hope you can join us!

Saturday, April 26: Workshop in Corvallis
Join Bells of the Cascades for a spring handbell workshop! Registration from just $20 for a full afternoon of expert instruction. Learn more and register today.

Saturday, April 26: Concert in Corvallis
“Hitting Things,” featuring percussionist Michael Charles Smith. Learn more and get directions.

Sunday, April 27: Concert in Portland
“Hitting Things,” featuring percussionist Michael Charles Smith. Learn more and get directions.

Saturday, May 17: Special event with Fred Gramann in Portland
Featuing the handbell choirs of Calvin Presbyterian Church, Tualatin Presbyterian Church and Bells of the Cascades. Learn more and get directions.

Mark these events on your calendar, and we’ll see you soon!

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