June is the founder and director of Joyful Sound. She has a music education degree and has directed youth, adult and intergenerational handbell choirs for the past 36+ years. June has served in many positions for Handbell Musicians of America Area 5 and served on the HMA national board. She has taught classes for local, state, area, and national events, and has been a mass conductor for several local events. In 2019, June retired from Old Bethel United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, where she served for 21 years as organist and director of traditional worship. Prior to that, she served at Christ United Methodist Church for 15 years. June has a daughter and twin grandsons.

Sharon, a founding member of Joyful Sound, began ringing in the 1980s at Christ Indianapolis UMC, where she still rings, sings, and teaches Sunday school. She has two children and four grandchildren, and shares her home with one spoiled cat. She is a retired St. Francis hospice nurse.

Eleanor has been ringing handbells for more than a decade; she learned to play in middle school, rang with Purdue Bells while earning a degree in multidisciplinary engineering from Purdue University, and joined Joyful Sound in 2021. Eleanor lives in Indianapolis and is a product design engineer at Catalyst Product Development Group. She likes to spend her non-bells time hiking, exploring new places, or hanging out with her cat. She has also served as webmaster on the HMA Area 5 board since 2023.

Erin learned to play handbells in the 6th grade. She directed her college handbell choirs, enjoys both solo and ensemble ringing, and has played with various handbell choirs in central Indiana over the years. Erin is a life sciences writer/editor for Milliman and an advocate for science education and science communication. She spends her non-working/non-handbell hours taking care of her family, being active outdoors, reading books, playing games, and eating chocolate.

Curt has been playing handbells since 1990 and is a founding member of Joyful Sound. He is also a percussionist, and plays with a concert band in the summer when he’s not playing bells. He is a mechanical engineer from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and tests aircraft engines at Rolls-Royce. In his spare time, he enjoys bicycle and motorcycle riding, reading, home improvement, and nature.

Bio coming soon!

Brian joined the Grace Notes handbell choir at Resurrection Lutheran Church in 2001 and has been ringing ever since. He joined Joyful Sound in spring 2023. Brian attended Case Western Reserve University and is employed as an automation engineer at Eli Lilly. As a father of two, he enjoys attending their sporting events and music performances. In his spare time, he enjoys assembling Metal Earth and LEGO models.

Darrell has more than 30 years of handbell-ringing experience, having rung and directed choirs at Wesley, Beech Grove, and Christ (Westfield) United Methodist Churches. Before joining Joyful Sound in 2004, he rang for three years in the former Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble. Darrell also enjoys ringing solos and is a retired postal worker.

Kim has been playing bells since 2001. She originally joined Joyful Sound in 2014 and returned to the group in 2023 after living in Georgia for several years. Kim is employed as a senior statistician for B2S Life Sciences and enjoys spending her free time hanging out with her three cats, playing games, and reading.

Beth has been ringing handbells since the age of 8. She is a member of the Chancel Bells at Meridian Street UMC and the director of the children's bell choir there. Beth enjoys ringing bell solos as well. She is a math support teacher at The Orchard School. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Craig, as well as sewing, baking, and gardening.

Jonathan joined Joyful Sound in fall 2023 after beginning his handbell journey as a member of Purdue Bells during his time at university. After completing his master’s degree in organizational communication, he now works as an academic advisor for Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering. Outside of rehearsals, Jonathan enjoys photography, volunteering with his church, and serving HMA Area 5 as communications chair.

Karen has been ringing bells since the 1990s and joined Joyful Sound in 2010. She also enjoys ringing solos and in small ensembles. Karen recently retired from American Family Insurance, where she worked as an applications systems developer.

Betsy learned to ring at age 12 in Lawrence, Kansas, and in high school spent her summers touring the Midwest, England, Scotland, and Wales with the Plymouth Church Festival Ringers. After a long hiatus, Betsy attended a handbell festival, rediscovered her passion, and joined Joyful Sound in 2022. Betsy is a CPA for Arcwood Environmental and a board member at Ascent 121. She loves team crosswords, books, games, and family fun both in person and on Zoom.