Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 7 PM
Tibbets United Methodist Church
3940 41st Avenue SW
Seattle, WA

Suggested donation of $10
at the door

Bells of the Sound is pleased to present handbell solo artist Nancy Hascall in concert on Saturday, March 29 at 7:00 PM at Tibbets United Methodist Church. The program will feature works of late 19th and 20th century French composers transcribed for solo handbells and piano, followed by a varied selection of sacred music and spirituals. A suggested donation of $10 will be received at the door, but no one will be refused admission for lack of funds.

Nancy Hascall is a native of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and has performed as a handbell soloist since 1989. She is widely recognized as one of the country’s most versatile and artistic ringers. Nancy arranges almost all her own solo repertoire, drawing from folk, classical, and sacred music sources which she reworks into duets for handbells and piano. In addition to her graceful and innovative ringing style, she is also acknowledged as the creator of a widely used ringing method called “traveling four-in-hand,” which she teaches at handbell events throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has authored several articles on ringing techniques for Overtones, the national publication of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR), and has published more than 25 handbell compositions and arrangements for soloist, ensembles, and bell choirs. In 2000, she was the first place winner in the first Bells of the Sound Composition Contest.

In addition to her work as a solo artist, Nancy serves as director of Bells of the Cascades, a Portland-based community handbell ensemble similar to Bells of the Sound and known for its “handbell cruises” -- floating workshops for handbell ringers en route to exotic destinations. She also serves as Director of Handbells at Portland First United Methodist Church.

Accompanist for the performance will be Molly Verschuyl, of Portland, Oregon. Molly has been playing piano from a very young age, when she was first introduced to the instrument by Nancy Hascall. At Linfield College, Molly studied solo piano, four-hand piano, and piano accompaniment with Jill Timmons as well as oboe. Molly’s love of musical collaboration flourished when she and Molly Wheeler formed the four-hand piano duo The Mollys and toured extensively throughout the Northwest and France. While studying language and piano in Paris, Molly developed a special affinity for French music. Playing oboe with the Grace Experimental Orchestra in Seattle fostered her appreciation for musical innovation. After growing up around handbell choirs, Molly is delighted now to partner with Nancy in exploring the depth and possibilities of handbells as a solo instrument.