{{Infobox musical artist | name = Bells at Temple Square | image = File:Bells at Temple Square Tabernacle.jpg | alt = The Bells at Temple Square performing | caption = The Bells at Temple Square performing in the Salt Lake Tabernacle | origin = Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | genre = Worship, classical | years_active = {{Start date|2005}}–present | label = Mormon Tabernacle Choir Label; The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Label (current) | website = [https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/bells.html Bells at Temple Square] }}

The '''Bells at Temple Square''' (formerly known as the '''Bells on Temple Square''') is a handbell choir that is an official music organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was formed in 2005 under the direction of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (Choir).<ref>[https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/bells.html "The Bells on Temple Square"]. Accessed 5 November 2007.</ref>

The Bells at Temple Square is a double handbell choir, composed of 27 to 35 ringers on two sets of Malmark handbells (one seven-octave set and one 6½ octave set) and two sets of Malmark handchimes (six octaves each). The octave two bells are Malmark aluminum bells. Each part is usually doubled (played by two ringers on separate sets), except octave two.

==History== The Choir developed an interest in using English handbells in their performances, and Jerold Ottley invited the Wesley Bell Ringers to perform in a 1989 Christmas program with the Choir.<ref>{{cite book |title=Diakonia: The Wesley Bell Ringers Celebrate 50 Years |date=2013 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1494747695 |page=11}}</ref> Craig Jessop also had his interest in English handbells sparked when he attended a Christmas concert at the York Minster cathedral when he was an LDS Church missionary. He purchased a set of handbells when he led The Singing Sergeants and had them ring and sing. When he later led the Choir, he borrowed bells from local schools at first.<ref name="FtD-BTS">{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Geoff |last2=Nielsen |first2=Chad |title=The Bells at Temple Square: The Tabernacle Choir’s World-Class Handbell Ensemble |url=https://www.fromthedesk.org/bells-at-temple-square/ |website=From the Desk |access-date=23 December 2025 |date=November 16, 2025}}</ref>

After receiving approval from LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley and funding from a large anonymous donation, Jessop organized the Bells on Temple Square in 2005, with Thomas Waldron as the first conductor.<ref name="FtD-BTS"/>

The Bells at Temple Square was selected to perform the closing concert at the 2017 National Seminar for the Handbell Musicians of America, held in Anaheim, CA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bells on Temple Square Concert: "An Expedition of Sound" |url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/bells-on-temple-square-concert-an-expedition-of-sound.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=The Tabernacle Choir Blog|date=11 April 2018 }}</ref> The group was also selected to perform at the 2023 National Seminar for the Handbell Musicians of America, held in Irving, Texas.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rappleye |first=Christine |date=13 June 2023 |title=See photos from and watch the Bells at Temple Square's spring concert |work=Church News |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2023/6/13/23758678/bells-at-temple-squares-spring-concert-bells-in-motion-photo-gallery |access-date=2023-06-30}}</ref>

On May 8, 2020, it was announced that the Bells on Temple Square would now be known as the Bells at Temple Square, following the Choir's new visual identity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=More Changes: Learn New Ensemble Names!|url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/more-changes-new-ensemble-names.html|access-date=2020-06-07|website=www.thetabernaclechoir.org|date=8 May 2020 }}</ref>

==Performances== The Bells at Temple Square frequently accompanies the Choir in its annual Christmas concert and on the weekly Music and the Spoken Word broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bells at Temple Square Concert |url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/events/bells-at-temple-square-november-2022-concert |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=thetabernaclechoir.org}}</ref> Additionally, the group performs semi-annual concerts, typically in November<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bells at Temple Square Concert |url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/events/bells-at-temple-square-november-2022-concert |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=thetabernaclechoir.org}}</ref> and June.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-09 |title="Bells In Motion" – Bells Concert Spring 2023 |url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/events/bells-concert-spring-2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=thetabernaclechoir.org}}</ref>

==Leadership== Thomas M. Waldron served as the group's first conductor from 2005 to 2011. LeAnna Willmore succeeded him in 2011, after serving as associate director since 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LeAnna Willmore: Conductor, Bells at Temple Square |url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/bells/leanna-willmore.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=thetabernaclechoir.org}}</ref> She retired in June 2024 and was succeeded by Geoff Anderson, who had served as the associate conductor since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geoff Anderson: Associate Conductor, Bells at Temple Square |url=https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/bells/geoff-anderson.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=thetabernaclechoir.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rappleye |first1=Christine |title=Bells at Temple Square conductor LeAnna Willmore to retire |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2024/06/14/bells-temple-square-director-leanna-willmore-retire-tabernacle-choir/ |access-date=12 October 2024 |publisher=Church News |date=June 14, 2024}}</ref> Mat Ulmer was called to serve as the associate conductor in spring 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rappleye |first1=Christine |title=How to attend, stream the Bells at Temple Square holiday concert ‘Ringing in the Season of Light’ |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/11/21/bells-temple-square-holiday-concert-ringing-season-light/ |website=Church News |access-date=23 December 2025 |date=21 November 2025}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> Bells at Temple Square.png|The Bells at Temple Square performing in "Music and the Spoken Word" Bells at Temple Square Side-view.jpg|The Bells at Temple Square performing in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle Bells at Temple Square - Handbells in Tabernacle.jpg|Handbells owned by the Bells at Temple Square in the Tabernacle </gallery>

==See also== *Temple Square Chorale *Orchestra at Temple Square

{{Portal|LDS Church}}

== Notes == {{Reflist}} {{Primary sources|date=March 2008}}

== External links == *[http://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/bells The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square - Bells on Temple Square] *[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/the-bells-on-temple-square Bells Choir’s Testimonies Ring Clear] *[http://www.mormonchannel.org/everything-creative-discussion/34 Mormon Channel: Everything Creative, Discussion 34 - Bells on Temple Square]

{{LDSmusic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bells At Temple Square}} Category:Tabernacle Choir Category:Temple Square Category:Musical groups from Salt Lake City Category:Choirs from Utah Category:Latter Day Saint musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 2005 Category:Handbell ringers Category:American Christian musical groups Category:2005 establishments in Utah