Sonos Handbell Ensemble

Founded in 1990 by artistic director Jim Meredith the Sonos Handbell Ensemble presents concerts of original and traditional music for bells in a western classical tradition. At self-produced concerts in Bay Area churches and as accompanists to local symphonies and choirs (including fellow Hewlett grantees the San Francisco Girls Chorus and the Kronos Quartet) Sonos performes in both a full 12 person ensemble and in a smaller four-ringer arrangement. Sonos is a small, volunteer-driven arts organization (no full time administrative staff and a company of musicians who are paid per concert) that during the past grant period secured a $170,000 gift form a Japanese fan to underwrite the production of a documentary film promoting handbell music and featuring the ensemble. Over the proposed grant period the company will continue with its local, national and international concerts and complete the film with the goal of improving the public’s image of handbell music and creating more touring and funding opportunities in the process.