Want to Join the Bells at Temple Square? Applications Due January 31

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By Christine Rappleye, Church News

The Bells at Temple Square is accepting applications for bell ringers through Friday, January 31.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a current temple recommend. A bishop’s recommendation is part of the application process. (See below.)
• Have excellent music reading skill, have previous handbell experience and/or have experience with one other musical instrument.
• The age range for the Bells at Temple Square members is 20 to 50 years old. Applicants should be 20 to 45 years old.
• Commit to serve for five years and attend 90% of Bells events.
• Attend weekly rehearsals, Wednesdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
• Live within 100 miles of Temple Square at the time of application and during ensemble membership.
• Be in good physical and emotional health.

Bells at Temple Square members are set apart as missionaries assigned to the Tabernacle Choir organization, must comport themselves in a manner consistent with service as a set-apart missionary and agree that service in the Bells is their primary Church calling, according to the Bells at Temple Square auditions information on The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s website.

The handbell choir’s performances include two yearly concerts, which are usually in June and November; taking part in the weekly “Music & the Spoken Word” about six per year — and other Tabernacle Choir broadcasts; the Utah Spring Ring in March; and the choir’s annual Christmas concerts, usually in December. The bell ringers, on occasion, travel out of state to perform. In 2023, the group also performed at the Handbell Musicians of America national seminar in Irving, Texas, and in the 2024 Area 11 Festival.

How to Apply and Audition for the Bells at Temple Square

There is a four-step application and audition process that includes a bishop endorsement, live audition and interview.

1. Submit the two-page application form that is available at thetabernaclechoir.org/bells-auditions?lang=eng along with a current photo to bells@tabchoir.org by Jan. 31.
2. The applicant’s bishop will be contacted for a bishop’s endorsement.
3. If the applicant is approved, he or she will be invited to attend the live auditions in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City. These are on three consecutive Saturdays in February, and each session is three hours, to a total of nine hours. Auditions include instructional information about handbell ringing and observations of each applicant’s knowledge, music reading and skill.
4. The fourth step is an interview with a member of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square presidency for a potential call.

After a call is extended, new members are set apart as missionaries by the choir presidency at a convenient time.

Questions can be sent to bells@tabchoir.org.

Listen to this related podcast from the Church News Episode 193: The retiring conductor of the Bells at Temple Square on the importance of music in worship, daily life

About the Bells at Temple Square

The Bells at Temple Square was created in March 2005 as part of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square organization. The bell ringers are volunteer musicians, like the members of the Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square and Chorale at Temple Square.

For recent concerts, the 32-member handbell choir played on two sets of English handbells and handchimes — one with seven octaves and one with 6½ octaves. Longtime conductor Leanna Willmore retired last June, and the Bells are now led by conductor Geoff Anderson.

Watch the bell ringers’ 2024 holiday concert “Season of Ringing” and the 2024 summer concert “Joyfully Ring,” and see the Bells at Temple Square playlist on YouTube.

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