About the Ensemble

For 37 years and counting, the Columbia Handbell Ensemble has been one of central Missouri’s finest community-based arts organizations. This auditioned ensemble is one of the longest-running community handbell ensembles in the nation. Our mission is to promote musical excellence through handbells and to educate people about the unique and compelling beauty of bell ringing. Over the years we have garnered national recognition as the guest featured choir at multiple Handbell Musicians of America events. We’ve also collaborated locally with the Odyssey Chamber Music Series, University Concert Series, Missouri Symphony, Columbia Chorale, Whitman Air Force Base, Legion of Black Collegians, and Columbia Diversity Breakfast, just to name a few.

Some of our most notable performances include:

  • Pinnacle National Seminar hosted by Handbell Musicians of America, July 2025

  • Area I Festival of the Handbell Musicians of America, 2018

  • Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar, 2011

We have also had several commissioned pieces written for us over the years, including but not limited to:

  • Land of Make Believe, Mangione/Morris (2017)

  • You Can’t Stop the Beat, Shaiman/Hanson (2017)

  • Bound for the Promised Land, Wilberg/Dell! (2010)

  • Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Arr. Kevin McChesney (1998)

  • America, From West Side Story, Bernstein/Arr. Arnold Sherman (1995)

  • Hoedown, From Rodeo, Copland/ Arr. Hart Morris (1994)

  • Carol of the Birds, Arr. Deborah Carr (1989)

Our Musicians

  • Headshot of Cindy Butler

    Cindy Butler

    B6&7/C7

  • Headshot of Nancy Dreier

    Nancy Dreier

    G6&7/A6&7

  • Headshot of Clare Bogle

    Clare Bogle

    E6&7/F6&7

  • Headshot of Rachel Newman

    Rachel Newman

    C6/D6&7

  • Headshot of Rene Miserez

    Rene Miserez

    A5/B5

  • Headshot of Jane Piester

    Jane Piester

    F5/G5

  • Headshot of Julia Gaines

    Julia Gaines

    D5/E5

  • Headshot of Andrea Beshuk

    Andrea Beshuk

    B4/C5

  • Headshot of Amelia Padalino

    Amelia Padalino

    G4/A4

  • Headshot of Lynne Schwartze

    Lynne Schwartze

    E4/F4

  • Headshot of Nathan Cotner

    Nathan Cotner

    C4/D4

  • Headshot of Sarah Rohrs

    Sarah Rohrs

    G3-B3

  • Headshot of Daniel Bogle

    Daniel Bogle

    C3-F3

Headshot of Ed Rollins

Our Director

Ed Rollins

Ed has been active in the handbell world for many years. His leadership positions in Handbell Musicians of America includes Missouri State Treasurer, Missouri Chair, Area 8 Chair (representing Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska on two occasions), Area 7/8 Representative to the National Board, and from 2011-2017 as the HMA President-Elect and President for the National Board of Directors. In 2020 (at the start of the pandemic) he was asked to act as Interim Executive Director for the organization, which he did for almost two years. When a new ED was hired, Ed became the Business Manager for HMA for the next two years.

For 31 years, Ed served as Associate Pastor for Music and Administration at First Baptist Church of Columbia, MO. At the church, Ed directed the choirs, handbell program, and an instrumental ensemble while also taking care of the administrative workings of the church, including oversight of budgets, personnel, facilities and the church’s endowment. He also founded the Odyssey Chamber Music Series during his tenure.

Ed is married to Jess Wolfe, a teacher for the Columbia Public Schools program for gifted students (EEE). He has four stepchildren, Liam, Ophelia, Anya and Odin, and four years ago, Jess and Ed welcomed Iris Mae Wolfe Rollins into the clan. Along with the kids, there are two fluffy dogs, George and Charlie, three cats, a hamster, bearded dragon and a few Guinea Pigs. Never a dull moment.