Members
About Us
Joyful Sound is a community handbell choir in Greenwood and Indianapolis, Indiana that was formed in 1999 under the direction of June Hannah. Our mission is to promote the art of English handbell ringing through performance, education, and community outreach.
In the spirit of joyful song, the Joyful Sound ringers shall strive to:
• Promote the diverse art of handbell ringing in Central Indiana.
• Develop educational opportunities for youth and adults to learn the art of handbell ringing.
• Participate in handbell festivals, workshops, and retreats for the purpose of continually improving our ringing skills and technique.
• Ring a wide variety of sacred and secular music.
• Challenge ourselves to grow musically, spiritually, and professionally in a creative, caring and nurturing atmosphere.
• Serve our community and choir with professionalism, pride and respect.
Joyful Sound, Inc. is a non-profit organization.
Ringers: (Front Row) Sharon Blades, June Hannah (Director), Karen Hetrick; (Second Row) Beth Larner, Joy Whitesell, Kelly Freiberger, Karen Sanford; (Third Row) Lora Lee Curren, Lindsey Fischer, Erin Gerecke, Lorraine Griepentrog; (Back Row) Darrell Klutey, Curt Harris, Tom Curren.
At-Large Members: Statia Runyan, Jamie Stahl, Joy Whitsit (Not Pictured)
Equipment & CDs
Joyful Sound owns and rings 5-1/2 octaves of Schulmerich handbells and 5 octaves of Malmark choirchimes. We recorded a CD for our 10 year anniversary in 2009 titled "A Decade of Joy". (ClickHEREfor ordering information.) We also have recorded CDs for the Concordia and Chorister's Guild Publishing Companies and for the Celebrating Grace Hymnal in 2010-2011.
June Hannah is the founding Music Director of Joyful Sound and is the Organist and Music Director at Old Bethel UMC in Indianapolis. June has a degree in music education, with her major instrument in organ. June has served as Indiana State Chair, Chair-Elect, Chair, Past Chair, and Event Planner for Area V. June has served on the National Board of AGEHR and has been a clinician at the state, area and national level, a guest conductor for several festivals, as well as offering workshops for several church bell choirs.
Sharon Blades , a founding member of Joyful Sound, began ringing in the 1980s at Christ UMC of Indianapolis where she still rings, sings and teaches Sunday school. She's married to Mel, has 2 children and 3 grandchildren and enjoys family, animals, music, crafts, games and outdoors. A St Francis Hospice RN, she's worked prn (as needed) since '08 retirement.
Karen Hetrick is a professional church musician, writer and certified Christian Leadership Coach with degrees from Judson University and Christian Theological Seminary. She is the Director of Music Ministries at Mt. Auburn UMC in Greenwood. Karen has served AGEHR as National Conference Local Liaison and is Past-President of the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians, for which she is the Lending Library Coordinator. She enjoys knitting and other fiber arts, as well as family time with her husband and grown son who are also ringers.
Tom Curren first started ringing handbells at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. He has continued to ring in his church choir and with Joyful Sound. Tom has served in many leadership roles for Joyful Sound, and he and his wife, Lora Lee, are founding members. Their wedding was in fact the first "official" gig under the name Joyful Sound. He is employed by AT&T and enjoys traveling, ringing bells, and singing.
Lora Lee Curren first started ringing handbells when she and Tom started dating. She enjoys ringing with her church choir and is a founding member of Joyful Sound along with her husband Tom. Lora Lee has served as Secretary and Treasurer for Joyful Sound and is the music librarian. Tom and Lora Lee's wedding was the debut performance of the group. Lora Lee is employed by AT&T and enjoys traveling, singing with her church choir, ringing bells, scrapbooking and stamping.
Joy Whitesell , a graduate of Indiana State University, is a special education teacher at Northeast Elementary School in Greenwood. She is an active member of First Baptist Church where she rings handbells, directs a beginning handbell choir, and plays trumpet and French horn. Joy's interests include reading, jigsaw puzzles, and scrapbooking. She enjoys spending time with her husband Jim and their children, Jacob and Jana, and Yorkshire Terrier, Maggie.
Curt Harris has been playing handbells since 1990, starting in a local church choir. When he started, he could hardly read a note of music, having played drums in high school and college. But he started slow and persevered! Curt is married to Jennifer and has two children, Madison and Jacob. Curt works as an engineer for Rolls Royce.
Beth Larner has been ringing handbells at age 8at her small church in Ohio. She was one of the founding members of the Meridian Street United Methodist Church's bell choir almost 15 years while attending Butler University. She continues to ring with that choir as well as to direct the children's bell choir. Beth is a math teacher at The Orchard School. She also enjoys solo and ensemble ringing. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, reading, gardening, and bike riding.
Lindsey Fischer began playing handbells in junior high school and continued in high school at Floyd Central Jr./Sr. High School. She began a handbell choir at her church in eighth grade and began solo ringing in church services. She continued ringing and directing in college at the University of Indianapolis. She loves ringing solos at various churches in Indianapolis. She has taught at local and state festivals and at the Area V AGEHR Festival in Covington, KY in 2011. She is a synthetic chemist at Dow AgroSciences and is an avid tennis player.
Darrell Klutey brings more than15 years of handbell experience with him, having both rung and directed handbell choirs at Wesley and Beech Grove United Methodist Churches. Before joining Joyful Sound in 2004, he rang for three years in the former Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble. In addition, he has considerable experience in solo ringing. Darrell delivers for a pharmacy and flower shop in Westfield, Indiana.
Lorraine Griepentrog began her bell ringing in 1994 at Bethel United Methodist Church. She continues to ring with the Bethel choir, Bells of 52nd Street, as well as small groups and the duet, Two Thirds. She is also an active vocal performer with the church choir. Her interests include knitting, sewing, and spending time with two rescued Great Danes. A husband, three grown, married children, three grandsons and six grand-dogs also enrich her life.
Janet Teeguarden has played bells since 1994 at Bethel United Methodist Church, also playing solo, ensemble music, and particularly duets with Lorraine Griepentrog. She works as a Professor of Mathematics at Ivy Tech Community College and formerly taught at DePauw University for 20 years. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have one daughter and three grandchidren. They love to travel and have visited all 50 states and six of the seven continents. In 2000 Janet was able to tour Europe with a handbell choir from Cleveland.
Karen Sanford began ringing with Joyful Sound in 2010. She has been ringing bells for many years, especially attending festivals of the Handbell Musicians of America. She has also had experience ringing solos and ensembles.
Kelly Freiberger
Kelly has been ringing since she was in the sixth grade at Highland Hills Middle School under the direction of Susan Adams. When she entered Floyd Central High School, she continued ringing under the direction of Angela Vaughn Hampton in both the Highlander Bells and Bronze Ringers. Now Kelly has been ringing for eight years and is thoroughly enjoying her time ringing with Joyful Sound while she attends Butler University studying Pharmacy.
Workshops
Every two years, Joyful Sound provides a half-day skill-building workshop in the fall for beginning and advanced ringers and directors in the Indianapolis area. This workshop is provided at a minimal cost to the participants ($5-10) such that all local choirs are encouraged to attend and develop their ringing techniques. Classes offered in previous years include:
- Ringing Techniques
- Music & Rhythm
- Weaving & Bell Changes
- Ringing Musically
- Multiple Bells (Four-in-Hand) & Small Ensemble
- Directors' Round Table
Joyful Sound's previous workshop was this past fall on November 6, 2010. Stay tuned for information for the next workshop in the fall of 2012!
Check out our Photo Gallery of pictures from our last workshop!
2012 Concert Schedule
We do not currently have any spring concerts scheduled. Contact us to book us and check back
for concert updates!
Previous Concerts
December 17, 2011: Rhythm Discovery Center, 110 W. Washington St. Ste. A, Indianapolis, IN
December 12, 2011: Indiana Masonic Homes, 690 State St., Franklin, IN
December 11, 2011: Old Bethel United Methodist Church, 7995 E. 21st St., Indianapolis, IN
December 4, 2011: Nineveh Christian Church, 1261 E. 775 South, Nineveh, IN
December 3, 2011: Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
December 2, 2011: First Baptist Church, 99 W. Main St., Greenwood, IN
November 29, 2011: Greenwood Village South, 295 Village Lane, Greenwood, IN
December 19, 2010: Old Bethel United Methodist Church, 7995 E. 21st St., Indianapolis, IN
December 17, 2010: First Baptist Church, 99 W. Main St., Greenwood, IN
December 4, 2010: Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
August 21, 2010: WAMM Fest, Craig Park - Volleyball Court, Greenwood, IN
June 6, 2010: St. Pius X Catholic Church, Indianapolis, IN
April 25, 2010: Christ United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, IN
April 18, 2010: Old Bethel United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, IN
December 19, 2009: First Baptist Church, 99 W. Main St., Greenwood, IN
December 14, 2009: The Hearth at Stones Crossing, Greenwood, IN
December 13, 2009: Artsgarden at Circle Center Mall, Indianapolis, IN
December 6, 2009: Christ UMC Christmas Party, Westfield, IN
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Change Ring Prelude
on 'Divinum Mysterium'
Grazioso
CD Song List
1. Te Deum
2. Change Ring Prelude on 'Divinum Mysterium'
3. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
4. Fantasy on "King's Weston"
5. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
6. Meditation on "Beautiful Savior"
7. Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending
8. Comfort, Comfort Ye Me People
9. Capriccio
10. Grazioso
11. Passacaglia
12. A Walk in the Park
13. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Te Deum
Joyful Sound records demo CDs for Concordia and Chorister's Guild Publishing Companies and for the Celebrating Grace Hymnal through The Lodge Recording Studio in Indianapolis, Indiana. The music on these CDs includes music of all difficulties written specifically for handbell choirs and music written to accompany choral and instrumental arrangements. Contact us for more information if you would like us to record handbell compositions for you!
CDs are available for $15. Please contact June Hannah
at 317-888-3278 or at junehannah3_gmail.com
Contact Us
Interested in Ringing?
JOYFUL SOUND IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEW PERMANENT RINGER. PLEASE CONTACT JUNE HANNAH IF YOU ARE INTERESTED!
Joyful Sound is always looking for new ringers and substitute ringers. Each ringer must audition at three rehearsals before a final decision is made. Joyful Sound's philosophy is that teamwork and group dynamics are more important than ringing abilities, since these can always be improved. However, we are an advanced handbell choir that takes pride in our professionalism, ringing techniques and musical dynamics to be an example for other handbell choirs. We hope you will consider joining our group if you are interested!
For General Information
and to Book a Concert:
317-888-3278 or
junehannah3_gmail.com
To Purchase a CD:
Contact June Hannah
Charitable Donations can
be mailed to:
Joyful Sound
554 Whispering Trail
Greenwood, IN 46142
Check out our Facebook page and Like our website!
Help us earn a penny everytime you search the internet at GoodSearch.com! List Joyful Sound, Inc. as your charitable organization.
Joyful Sound Documents
Joyful Sound Bylaws.doc
Joyful Sound brochure 2010.pdf
Malmark Handbells
Schulmerich Handbells
Whitechapel Handbells
American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR)
Arts Council of Indianapolis
