Ashley was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a teenager, she traveled around the country with the Wesley Bell Ringers for four summers between 2003 and 2008. The experience she gained from this shaped her into the person she is today, and gave her a better understanding of the world.  Unable to stay away from bells, she joined The Bells of Joyful Sound in 2010, and for the first time she was a tinker! Ashley loves the outdoors, fishing, camping, and hiking. She’s also an avid gamer and plays CoD and WoW along with many other games. She is a student at Salt Lake Community College, and wants to pursue studies in Environmental Engineering Technology. She wants to save the world and teach everyone to respect the earth that allowed them to be. C.J. grew up in Davis County, but now resides in Lehi, Utah. A graduate of Viewmont High school, class of 2003, he currently attends Utah Valley University part-time pursuing a degree in Business Management. For the last 2 years he has worked full time as a merchandiser in the Utah County area. Although he only recently started playing handbells, he has played saxophone for the last 12 years. He was an avid member of the University of Utah Marching Utes for the 2003 through 2009 seasons, serving as a drum major from 2006 through 2009. He loves to travel and try new restaurants. His favorite foods include Indian, Chinese, and Thai. He loves dogs, going camping, summer recreation, and just relaxing. He hopes to be playing handbells for many years.
Ann, who grew up in Sandy, Utah, started playing bells at Jordan High. She fell in love with bells there, and played with the Westminster Bell Choir in Logan for 3 years, and has played with BOJS for 2 years. She also loves to play the piano, sing and act. She likes all kinds of music, including classical, R & B, alternative, and country. Ann has a degree from Utah State University in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education and used to teach PE to special needs students. Now she is a stay at home mom to her cute son and thinks it is the best job in the world. Ann likes to make cards with stamps, read, garden, and spend time with her husband. She has a little Maltese pup who she adores. Ann is happy to have her sister, Karen, in the choir this year. Colleen grew up in Roy, Utah.  A registered nurse, Colleen is employed by Intermountain Healthcare as a Hospice Nurse.  Describing music as her “solace” Colleen began looking to add a little more music into her life and in 1997 found a newspaper ad for bell ringers. She instantly fell in love with the heavenly sound of the bells and joined the Utah Valley Handbell Choir.  She is now in her third year playing with Bells of Joyful Sound with baritone bells as her specialty.  She is married to James, a professor of Theatre at UVU, and spends tons of time in the theater with him especially the musicals (go figure.)  Together they share eight children and eighteen grandchildren!  She also enjoys to jet ski, garden, travel, and read.
Jim, a business manager and computer specialist up at the "U" in Salt Lake City, has never married. Originally from Ohio, Jim lived in several states before moving to Utah in 1993. He enjoys playing bass instruments, singing, watching Blu-ray/DVD movies, and playing computer games (Sims 3 is his current addiction). His favorites in the music realm are the classic oldies, swing, classical, and broadway musicals. Jim's favorite TV shows are "America's Funniest Videos" and "Modern Family". His all-time favorite movie is "Big". He has a dog and two cats that keep him entertained at home. Jim loves to eat prime rib and chargrilled steak (rare), as well as pizza from The Pie. He is a veteran with the BOJS, having played the bass bells with the group since 1998. Erin was born and raised in Great Falls Montana. She lived there with her family until the age of 16 when they moved to West Jordan in 2001. She was home schooled 1st through 12th grade, taking high school through a distance education program from the school Christian Liberty Academy in Illinois, graduating with a high school diploma. She went on the get her AS in music from SLCC, graduating with honors. Besides playing the bells, she sings, plays guitar, piano, and is learning the violin. She’s led several worship teams, including one in her current home church, and of course has participated in several choirs. She’s currently taking a break from school to decide what she truly wants to do and is working for Salt Lake County in the South Jordan Library.
Jane, who was born in New York, has lived in several states, traveled to 30 countries, and spent a year teaching English in South Korea. She learned to play handbells in 2005 after she moved to Utah and joined the Bells of Joyful Sound. In addition to handbells, Jane plays the flute, piano, and penny whistle, and has played French horn with the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds since 2005. Jane is an adjunct professor at the U, where she teaches ESL in the linguistics department. She and her husband Robert live in a restored 1893 Victorian house with their two Chinese-born children and their cat Persephone. Jane enjoys cooking ethnic foods, taking her kids to the library, gardening, and hiking around the Valley with her family. Michael is a Utah native and has 6 children. His parents are from the Netherlands and he speaks Dutch fluently. He currently works as a merchandiser for a national food broker, also having worked with the Utah Dept of Youth Corrections. A lifetime musician he began studying the violin at age 7. Standing 6’6” tall in high school, he switched over to the viola because his fingers became too large. Michael played in the Granite Jr. and Sr. Youth Symphonies, throughout secondary school. After graduating in 1975 he joined the Salt Lake Symphony. Michael resigned in 1993 to pursue a college degree from the University of Utah where in 1997 he received his BA in Sociology with a secondary education minor. This is his second year playing hand bells and he loves it!
Julie is excited to be the newest member of the Bells of Joyful Sound.  She was first introduced to handbells while attending Murray High School and hasn’t rung in over ten years.  Although it has been quite a while since she has rung, she is welcoming the challenge and is looking forward to spreading holiday cheer during her favorite time of the year.  Julie enjoys all kinds of music, but particularly likes listening to reggaeton and synthpop. She studied at Snow College and the University of Utah and graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2004.   Julie loves spending time with her husband, Jaben, and her cat, Mandu.  Her hobbies include baking, playing the piano, hiking, and watching reality television shows. Karen grew up in Sandy, Utah, and has lived in the Salt Lake Valley her whole life. She is the youngest of 3 kids, and loves her family very much-- especially her niece and nephews! She currently lives by herself with her 3 box turtles.  Music has always been a part of her life. She has played piano, violin, flute and English handbells. After taking an 8 year break from music, Karen is loving being back into playing music! Bell nights are her favorite nights of the week, and especially loves ringing with her sister, Ann, who is also in the Bells of Joyful Sound. Karen is currently working as a pharmacy technician and aspires to be a pharmacist one day. In her free time, Karen enjoys knitting, cross stitching, reading, and watching bad horror movies.
Paul was born in Tooele, Utah. He began playing piano at the age of 5. Trumpet was soon to follow at age 8. He attended Weber State University and graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He currently works as a staff accountant in Orem. Paul loves Italian food and other "fine" dining. In his spare time he enjoys bowling and movies in addition to handbells. He has rung bells for the past eight years and was previously a member of the Utah Valley Handbell Choir. His musical taste is quite eclectic from classical to rock to alternative. He likes just about every kind of music except country and rap. He has recently been assigned the duties of Treasurer for the Bells of Joyful Sound, something that he should be qualified for. Lacey grew up in Utah County where she first began playing handbells with her mother and brother at their community church in Orem. The unique sound, diversity & challenges of handbells has been coursing through her veins ever since. She has rung bells for the past 21 years and was previously a member of the Utah Valley Handbell Choir. Lacey attended Utah Valley University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. She has gone on 4 volunteer missions to New Orleans to aid in the rebuilding of homes following the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. She currently manages the office of a tile & marble store in Midvale. Lacey is a diehard rockhound and enjoys camping, fishing, legos, video games, listening to David Bowie, and reading Patricia Cornwell.
Leslie currently lives in Sandy.  She assists her husband in his business and also has a hobby job as an independent tour guide, giving historical tours of Salt Lake City, the Great Salt Lake, Kennecott Copper Mine, Park City, and anywhere else along the Wasatch Front that people want to see.  She volunteers as a docent, giving tours at the State Capitol Building, and also volunteers playing background music on the piano at the LDS Conference Center.  She is active in the Utah Tour Guide Association and has served as an officer of that organization.  She enjoys playing piano and organ, reading, playing bells and loves to travel.  Her favorite vacation spot is Hawaii or anywhere Polynesian.  She has 3 children and 7 grandchildren and loves spending time with them.

Last Update: November 6, 2011