About Desert Bells International
Mission Statement
Desert Bells International is a youth-oriented handbell ringing program, which endeavors to build self esteem and strong character by teaching musical skills and synchronized teamwork to each of its members. Desert Bells fosters respect for individuals, while cultivating poise, confidence, and stage presence through performance, while encouraging accountability and commitment to the group. Desert Bells creates a rewarding and fun musical environment, where each ringer’s potential may be realized and put into life-long practice.
Profile
Desert Bells International is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization supported through performance fees, contributions and grants. Founded in March, 1991, by Artistic Director, Kay Cook, Desert Bells quickly developed a reputation as a highly skilled performing ensemble, which delivers exceptionally accurate, tightly synchronized, and technically dexterous ringing skills, coupled with quality showmanship.
Twenty-one ringers participated in the inaugural group. The ensemble’s success was instant and meteoric. Their first performance, after only five months of rehearsals, was at the 1991 Handbell Exploration Conference, where they received a standing ovation. Their accomplishments were noticed in Hollywood when Desert Bells was signed to record with Doc Severinson and the Tonight Show Orchestra. Desert Bells is featured on Doc Severinson’s 1991 Christmas CD.
Desert Bells is composed of four ensembles—ChaparralBells, whose members are youth ages 5 to 12 and are in training for Bronzeworks Towne Choir. From there the ringers graduate to Bronzeworksä, the teen age ringers who appear most often in tours and performances throughout the United States; and Scottsdale Handbell Ensemble, the adult performing ensemble.
Today, Desert Bells International, and especially Bronzeworksä, is well known throughout the world for their accurately synchronized musical ringing, technical dexterity, and creative interpretation of musical compositions and their delightfully entertaining style and showmanship on stage. Bronzeworksä has been featured many times throughout the years on all the local Arizona television stations. Most recently, Channel 12 and Sean McLaughlin, featured Bronzeworksä during the second week of competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics, as they performed at various venues throughout Park City and the Olympic Village and on the nationally syndicated “Today Show”. In December, 2000, Bronzeworksä performed in the production of “Christmas Pudding” at the Celebrity Theater, in conjunction with several national celebrities.
Desert Bells has recorded 50 CDs for Hope Publishing Company and Red River Music. Hope Publishing uses premiere performing ensembles, such as Bronzeworksä, to introduce newly published works to the musical community. Numerous composers have dedicated their handbell compositions and arrangements to Desert Bells. Desert Bells’ first recording, “Bronzeworks ‘95”, featured a variety of original compositions and some familiar favorites like ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Red River Publishing recently announced they were planning to publish a series of CDs dedicated to the performances of Bronzeworksä.
Performing tours have included the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Belgium, France, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Australia.
