Bells of the Sound is a nationally acclaimed handbell ensemble that has been pioneering handbell artistry and excellence since 1989. This group of 15 auditioned musicians is known for their high-caliber, energetic and entertaining performances. The group is a dynamic force in the handbell world, advancing handbells into the mainstream of entertainment and encouraging composers to create new works for this provocative, exhilarating instrument.

​Established to give handbell directors in the Puget Sound area an opportunity to ring, Bells of the Sound has since matured into a community ensemble dedicated to musical excellence and the promotion of handbells through exciting performance. The group now performs on one of the largest sets of handbells in the United States including 7-1/2 octaves of Malmark handbells, 5 octaves Malmark Choirchimes, 3 1/2 octaves of Petit & Fritsen handbells, and 2 octaves of Silver Melody Bells.  

BOTS presents two seasons of concerts to audiences throughout the Puget Sound every year and regularly collaborates with local choral, symphonic and handbell groups. Unique performances include working with film and television composer Mateo Messina on two of his symphony projects written to benefit Seattle Children's Hospital: "Symphony of the Superhero in 2009" and "The Pageant" in 2016.   Another was the Seattle Handbell Orchestra,  a collaboration with Emerald City Ringers and Rainier Ringers, where the three groups simultaneously rang their own parts like separate instruments. In December 2017, BOTS was featured on KING 98.1's Northwest Focus Live, performing live in the studio and giving interviews with host Sean MacLean. And in July 2017, Bells of the Sound was especially proud to represent the Pacific Northwest at Handbell Musicians of America's National Seminar in Anaheim, California, performing an all jazz concert, complete with drums, string bass, and keyboard.

Roster

Amy Neer

Amy grew up in Boise, where she studied piano and violin. She started ringing handbells in junior high at Boise First Congregational Church. Amy is a veterinarian, working in a private practice in Northeast Seattle where she treats cats, dogs, bunnies, and other fuzzy creatures. She lives in Seattle with her husband, two young sons, dog, and cats. She directs the children’s bell choir at Plymouth UCC in downtown Seattle, and also enjoys knitting, hiking, biking, and reading. 

Anne Barnard

Anne is a relative newcomer to Seattle— originally drawn here for residency training in 2015, she now works as a family physician at The Polyclinic in Northgate. Anne loved music from a young age, and was fortunate to discover the world of handbells through her hometown church in central Massachusetts. She continued ringing with Bucknell University's Rooke Chapel Ringers, the New England Ringers, and now is thrilled to find a home with Bells of the Sound. In addition to medicine and handbells, Anne loves to cook, travel, boulder, and take advantage of the Pacific Northwest's beautiful outdoors for running, hiking, bike commuting, and gardening.

Connie Okasaki

Connie grew up in NY, and first began ringing with the Katonah Presbyterian Church in 2008. After graduating from Harvey Mudd College with a degree in math, she moved to Seattle to study Quantitative Ecology at UW. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking, rock climbing, and playing lots of board games. She's thrilled to be living in Seattle and just hopes all her other college friends come to their senses soon and move here too. 

David Tarico

David grew up in Phoenix Arizona playing handbells from 4th grade through high school in choirs directed by Kay Cook.  He has lived in Seattle for 10 years working as a software engineer, and in addition to ringing handbells, enjoys playing board games, day hikes, and car camping. 

Elliot Lewis

Elliot was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Seattle in 2002 to join Microsoft, where he is currently a Principal Development Lead. A talented singer, Elliot sang and toured with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, and currently sings with The Baudboys, an award-winning a cappella group made up of Microsoft employees and alums. Elliot's favorite activities include tennis, softball, and spending time with wife Jillian and son Noah. 

Erin Hersey

Erin grew up in Kent, WA and worked as a software engineer at Texas Instruments and Boeing, before starting a family.  She and her husband Devin  raised 3 boys and are now enjoying the empty nest and retirement.  Erin still volunteers in the Kent School District.  She also enjoys traveling, square dancing, hiking, bicycling, gardening, knitting, and weaving.. 

Jennifer Vangolen

Jennifer was born and raised in New Jersey and holds a BA in Chemistry from Brandeis University. She is currently a Business Analyst in software development for Ellucian on Vashon Island and is a Member At Large on the National Board for the Handbell Musicians of America. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys playing with her kitty, Maaike, and hiking, biking and skiing any chance she gets - especially in Whistler, BC. 

Jillian Lewis

Jillian is from Kent and studied biology at Northwest University. She is proud to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a member of Bells of the Sound and still rings at Kent First Baptist Church, under her mother’s direction. An all-around all-weather athlete, Jillian loves snowboarding, playing ice hockey and softball, and surfing. She keep busy chasing around her two-year-old son Noah and dog Sadie. 

Jun Zihye

Jun moved to Seattle in 2010 from Montgomery, Alabama. She has been ringing since age 10 including Hallelujah Community Church in Seoul, Korea, Mt. Pleasant UMC in Terre Haute, IN and Aldersgate UMC in Montgomery, AL. She enjoys playing handbell with husband Ryan Yeo and has two sons Joshua and Caleb.

Karen Klemetson

Karen is a Seattle native, although she spent her school years living in southern California, before thinking better of it and moving back home.  Karen holds a Ph.D. in Marital and Family Therapy, and spends her day job as a psychotherapist with Lutheran Counseling Network.  Karen’s early musical training focused on playing the flute, but since she first picked up a handbell at age 29, she’s focused her musical energies on bells.  The fact that she met her husband Tim in her first handbell choir may have had something to do with that!  Karen enjoys cooking and baking, and she and her husband also consider themselves to be amateur wine snobs.  In her spare time, you might also find her watching a Seahawks game, or enjoying the outdoors with her husband and her dog Biscuit.

Katie Panhorst Harris 

Katie moved to Seattle in 2010 after spending her early years living around the eastern half of the US. She has been ringing since age 10 and also rings and sings at Seattle First United Methodist. When not making music, Katie does public health research at the University of Washington, and enjoys traveling, snowboarding, hiking, and exploring the Northwest. She and husband Jaime are renovating a home in West Seattle. 

Lyn Tober

Lyn was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and currently works for the Northwest Clean Air Agency in Mount Vernon. Lyn is fond of international travel (she’s visited 17 countries), and enjoys playing tennis and dancing. She’s also a great baker, spoiling the group with many delicious treats. 

Robin Pentland

Robin is originally from Mississippi and holds degrees in Church Music and Musicology. She is a Compensation and Benefits HR professional by day, but really only does that to support this music hobby. She enjoys singing with Choir of the Sound and actively participating in the vibrant music ministry at Bothell United Methodist Church. Robin and husband Ken have two cats, Sophie and Mr. Tux, who howl and nip at their peoples’ toes if they are not fed by 6am. They're too cute to kick to the streets. 

Shirley Lindberg

Shirley hails from the Boise, Idaho area although has lived in Seattle long enough to feel like a true Seattleite. She works for an international law firm, Perkins Coie LLP, which is headquartered in Seattle. Shirley is active at Tibbetts United Methodist Church where she directs the handbell choirs, and performs regularly as a piano accompanist and soloist. Shirley, husband Myron and son David, also gifted musicians, live in West Seattle. 

Tamara Steinhouse

Tamara started playing bells in sixth grade after seeing her siblings performing.  She played consistently through Junior College and then stopped for a while when she couldn’t find a bell choir.  She returned to playing bells over twenty years ago in California and hasn't stopped ringing since.  She also rings with Garden Street Ringers in Bellingham.  When not playing bells, she likes to run, line dance, read, and do puzzles.

Vanessa Wilkie

Vanessa is officially a Pacific Northwest transplant, but still considers herself an East Coast girl at heart. Born and raised in NY and PA, she came to WA to attend medical school at Bastyr University. She completed her residency in 2013, and now has a private practice in Bellevue as a Naturopathic primary care physician. Music has always been a huge part of her life, as her undergraduate degree is in Music/Piano Performance from Franklin & Marshall College. She’s begun to dabble with vocals by singing in the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church choir and contemporary ensemble. She has an obsession for knitting and is also the historian for the group. 

Photos​ courtesy of Vertizon Photography