JUBILOSO! Bells of Concordia

Director · Ringers · Repertoire · Auditions & Registration

Founded in 2002, JUBILOSO! Bells of Concordia is an auditioned community-based ensemble. Its primary mission is to perform quality handbell music with artistic integrity, while promoting and maintaining a professional attitude in rehearsals and performances. The aim of JUBILOSO! is to perform at a variety of local and regional venues and to participate in other handbell and music-related projects.

Jubiloso! appears at the annual Sacred Music Festival along with other Concordia ensembles. Concert partners include the Ritchie Trombone Choir, the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, Pro Coro Canada, Da Camera Singers, Sine Nomine, and Five of a Kind (brass quintet). The ensemble has performed at the Handbell Guilds of Canada's conference, the Ringing Link, in Winnipeg (2002) and Penticton (2005). Members of the group were represented at International Handbell Symposia in Orlando, Florida, USA and in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (2006) where Jubiloso's artistic director, Dr. John Hooper, served as the representative conductor from Canada. Jubiloso has been supported organizations in the community, performing at various benefits and special occasions.

Jubiloso! has premiered several works, including a commission of Patricia Thomson, original compositions and arrangements by director John Hooper, and arrangements for bells and choir by Trent Worthington, Jacobus Kloppers and Larry Nickel. The group has been privileged to work with Kevin Ko of the EmBELLishment Handbell Ensemble in Hong Kong and avid Harris of the Raleigh Ringers (North Carolina), and continues to work to developing skills in workshops and retreats.

The ensemble performs on a 6.5-octave set of Malmark handbells (F2 to C9), a 6-octave set of Malmark choirchimes® (C2 to C8) and a 5-octave set of Schulmerich melodychimes® (C3-C8), augmented with a 5-octave set of historic English Whitechapel bells (C3-C8) as well as various percussion instruments. JUBILOSO! includes musicians from all walks of life and performs a varied repertoire. Auditions are held annually.

Starting in 2002-2003, the ensemble received grant support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in support of its mission and mandate.