Cathy Moklebust (b. 1958) is one of today’s most respected and widely performed handbell composers and clinicians, known for her dynamic leadership, positive artistry, and elegant musical craftsmanship. She has developed and directed handbell programs since 1983 and has played bells since childhood. With her skilled, encouraging conducting style, she is in national demand as a clinician and festival conductor. Cathy has written more than 500 compositions and arrangements—many of them bestsellers—described as “pure joy to ring and listen to, having a uniquely delightful sense of melodic and rhythmic interaction, with elegant form and style.” Her works have been commissioned for festivals, churches, community ensembles, and professional groups, including nine pieces for The Raleigh Ringers. Her music has been broadcast on Today, Good Morning America, public television and radio, SiriusXM, Spotify, Pandora, and other digital platforms.
Ms. Moklebust began her musical career as a public-school instrumental music instructor in South Dakota. She has performed as principal and section percussionist with several professional and community bands and orchestras throughout the upper Midwest, and she teaches percussion classes for music events. Cathy has played in, conducted, and coached church and community handbell ensembles in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Since 1989, she has worked in the music retail and publishing industry; she and her husband, David, currently operate a successful music preparation service.
A native of Brookings, South Dakota, Cathy earned her B.A. in Music/Percussion (1982) and M.Ed. in Teacher Education/Music (1988) from South Dakota State University. She was encouraged in composition by her music theory professors, the late Mary Alice Spencer Berger and the late Dr. Paul H. Royer, and studied instrumental conducting extensively with the late Prof. John F. Colson. Her handbell education began in 1970 with the Towers Handbell Choir of First Lutheran Church in Brookings, under the direction of the late Mrs. Barbara Berntson. As a high school student, she attended her first national handbell event when the Towers Handbell Choir participated in the 1975 AGEHR National Handbell Festival in Logan, Utah, under the direction of the late Donald Allured.
Cathy and David reside in Brookings, SD, and are the proud parents of four grown children and grandparents of eight.
Ms. Moklebust began her musical career as a public-school instrumental music instructor in South Dakota. She has performed as principal and section percussionist with several professional and community bands and orchestras throughout the upper Midwest, and she teaches percussion classes for music events. Cathy has played in, conducted, and coached church and community handbell ensembles in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Since 1989, she has worked in the music retail and publishing industry; she and her husband, David, currently operate a successful music preparation service.
A native of Brookings, South Dakota, Cathy earned her B.A. in Music/Percussion (1982) and M.Ed. in Teacher Education/Music (1988) from South Dakota State University. She was encouraged in composition by her music theory professors, the late Mary Alice Spencer Berger and the late Dr. Paul H. Royer, and studied instrumental conducting extensively with the late Prof. John F. Colson. Her handbell education began in 1970 with the Towers Handbell Choir of First Lutheran Church in Brookings, under the direction of the late Mrs. Barbara Berntson. As a high school student, she attended her first national handbell event when the Towers Handbell Choir participated in the 1975 AGEHR National Handbell Festival in Logan, Utah, under the direction of the late Donald Allured.
Cathy and David reside in Brookings, SD, and are the proud parents of four grown children and grandparents of eight.