"Simply a joy to listen to and a sight to behold...a stunning display of uniqueness,
talent and artistry." (State Journal-Register, Springfield IL)

"Exciting, and our audience loved the performance which entertained audibly and visually....Flawless." (Kim Scarboro, North Florida Community College,
Madison FL, presenter)

George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Glen Miller are composers not usually associated with handbell choirs, but then Bells in Motion is not the usual church or community handbell choir. Its programs, which director Michael Lamb describes as "handbell pops," range from "In The Mood" to "Georgia On My Mind," and audiences at home and in Europe have discovered the medium to be exciting and appealing. The ensemble's eighteen musicians are all advanced ringers chosen by audition and in performance are joined by string and percussion musicians.

This ensemble has performed in Europe (notably in Germany and Austria) as well as extensively in the Midwestern and Eastern United States with programs containing selections such as "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Blue rondo a la Turk," "Take Five," and "In the Mood."

Bells in Motion has been featured in performance at a number of national and regional festivals and conventions of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. The ensemble has recorded a CD entitled "In Transit."

Michael Lamb, founder and director of Bells in Motion, has been a handbell director since 1983. His musical studies were at the University of Illinois and at Illinois State University, and in addition he has studied conducting with William Payn. He is a frequent teacher at advanced handbell clinics, and performs each year at the Distinctly Bronze handbell festival in South Carolina and has performed on the Dream Team handbell choir. In other areas of his musical life, Michael Lamb is a church musician, an accomplished performer on tuba and piano, and has sung with the Springfield Choral Society and the Illinois Symphony Chorus.

"Not all groups are able to capture the essence of the music...Bells InMotion plays the music, not just the notes." (Dr. William PaynE, Noted Handbell Composer, Conductor, Clinician, Professor of Music at Bucknell University)

"A very professional, very exciting group of performers that have always maintained the highest standard of musicianship. They have achieved a well-deserved reputation for exploring what handbells can do in jazz and pop music. The spirit of the group is enthusiastic and energetic. I have no doubt Bells in Motion will continue to excite audiences and influence the handbell world for a long time to come."
(Kevin McChesney, composer, handbell clinician, music publishing editor)