Cathy has been composing for handbells since 1987, beginning by writing arrangements and original compositions for her 2-octave handbell choir at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN.  Her first published arrangement was "Now the Silence" (1987, Agape/Hope Publishing).  Today, she has well over 200 pieces either in print or in the publishing process, representing several handbell music publishers. Her "Meditation on Beautiful Savior" (1996, rev. 2006, Choristers Guild) is one of the all-time most popular pieces in the handbell repertoire, with approximately 50,000 copies sold as of 2012. Her music has been described as "incredibly emotional, delightfully fresh, and uncommonly creative for the unique medium of handbells."