In September, Student Senate voted to approve Luther Ringers as an official student organization. Their new status solidifies Luther’s handbell ensemble as a recognized activity, with all the bells and whistles attached.

Luther Ringers is a student-led ensemble of hand-bell ringers who perform in events throughout the year and meet weekly on Sunday evenings to practice. Cam Moll (25’), the group’s artistic director, thinks that their new status as a student organization will bring the group financial stability.

“[Our status as a student organization brings] a sense of officiality and stability to the group,” Moll said. “We have consistent financial assistance. We can apply for a budget that we can use to purchase music and spearhead performances. [This] gives us a clear place within Luther’s campus. Last year, we were stuck in the middle ground between the music department and college ministries.”

The Luther Ringers have been an ensemble since 2008. The group operates as an opportunity for all students to get involved with music regardless of major or year. According to Moll, handbells are a beginner-friendly instrument.

“You’re really only responsible for between two and five notes,” Moll said. “We have ways that we can make it accessible to people without much experience. It [is] nice to have a little bit of music literacy background in terms of just being able to read some music, but we certainly have people who do not have as heavy backgrounds in music that have found success, and I think that’s core to the art of handbells in general.” 

Members of Luther Ringers praise the supportive atmosphere and community the ensemble has established. First-year member Ellis Olson (‘28) joined the group with little knowledge of handbell playing and appreciates the encouraging environment for learning and growing that the group has fostered.

”The culture of the group is really positive, [and] the people are really encouraging,” Olson said. “The music that we’re playing is really fun, but it’s more challenging than I thought it’d be, but it’s good for my brain.”

According to Moll, another strong aspect of the Luther Ringers is the teamwork put in to create the music.

“It’s a very team-driven ensemble,” Moll said. ”You have to have everybody in order to make it sound the way that it does because everybody is responsible for their own part. There’s also a sense of individuality [as] everybody’s responsible for the notes that they play and how that contributes to the overall texture and sound.” 

Luther Ringers have already had several performances this semester. They performed at chapel and participated in Professor of Music and Composer in Residence Brooke Joyce’s 1984 concert. For anyone seeking music that intrigues both the eyes and the ears, they can find it in Luther’s own bell ensemble, Luther Ringers.