Bells at Temple Square
The Bells at Temple Square is a handbell choir that is an official music organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was formed in 2005 under the direction of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
The Bells at Temple Square is a double handbell choir, composed of 27 to 35 ringers on two sets of Malmark handbells and two sets of Malmark handchimes. The octave two bells are Malmark aluminum bells. Each part is usually doubled, except octave two.
History
The Choir developed an interest in using English handbells in their performances, and Jerold Ottley invited the Wesley Bell Ringers to perform in a 1989 Christmas program with the Choir. Craig Jessop also had his interest in English handbells sparked when he attended a Christmas concert at the York Minster cathedral when he was an LDS Church missionary. He purchased a set of handbells when he led the The Singing Sergeants and had them ring and sing. When he later led the Choir, he borrowed bells from local schools at first.After receiving approval from LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley and funding from a large anonymous donation, Jessop organized the Bells on Temple Square in 2005, with Thomas Waldron as the first conductor.
The Bells at Temple Square was selected to perform the closing concert at the 2017 National Seminar for the Handbell Musicians of America, held in Anaheim, CA. The group was also selected to perform at the 2023 National Seminar for the Handbell Musicians of America, held in Irving, Texas.
On May 8, 2020, it was announced that the Bells on Temple Square would now be known as the Bells at Temple Square, following the Choir's new visual identity.