Bells of the Cascades is an advanced nonprofit community handbell choir from the greater Portland area in Oregon. From its beginning in 1990, Bells of the Cascades’ mission has been to advance handbell ringing through performance and education.

Read more about our members and our musical director, Matthew Compton.

Bells of the Cascades has been an invited performer at the Handbell Musicians of America’s national handbell conference three times, in 1997, 2013 and 2021. We’ve collaborated with many other artists, including performances with Portland Choir and Orchestra, Pink Martini, the Melodica Men, Alex Guebert’s Cathedral Bells, Bells of the Sound, Masterworks Choral Ensemble, Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree and more.

During the winter holidays, we perform in quintets at community locations and private parties throughout the region. We regularly provide workshop opportunities for handbell ringers and directors in locations throughout Oregon and Washington as part of our education mission. And every other year, Bells of the Cascades hosts handbell cruises, with participants learning and ringing — as well as enjoying vacation!

Read more about Bells of the Cascades’ three-decade history.