About Cathy Moklebust
Cathy Moklebust is an internationally recognized composer, conductor, clinician, and professional percussionist, most notably acclaimed for her extensive contributions to handbell music. She has developed and directed handbell programs since 1983 and is considered one of today's most popular handbell music composers, with over 500 compositions and arrangements to her credit, many reaching bestseller status. Her music is celebrated for its dynamic, positive approach, melodic and rhythmic interaction, and elegant form and style.
- Cathy Moklebust began her musical career as a public school instrumental music instructor in South Dakota.
- She is an active percussionist and has performed with several professional and community bands and orchestras throughout the upper Midwest, including the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge, Iowa, since 1997.
- "Meditation on Beautiful Savior" is one of her all-time best-selling pieces in the handbell repertoire, having sold approximately 50,000 copies as of 2012.
- She has received multiple accolades, including the Donald E. Allured Composition Award, the 2005 "Composer of the Year" award from Jeffers Handbell Supply, and an ASCAP Writer's Award every year since 2001.
Cathy Moklebust's sheet music is particularly well-suited for handbell ensembles of various skill levels, from early intermediate to advanced, often featuring options for 2 to 7 octaves of handbells or handchimes. Her arrangements frequently incorporate optional percussion, organ, brass quintet, or SATB choir, offering rich textural possibilities and adaptability for different performance settings, including church services, festivals, and concerts. Performing her music is rewarding due to its "pure joy to ring and listen to," "uniquely delightful sense of melodic and rhythmic interaction," and ability to evoke deep emotion, making it a fulfilling experience for both ringers and audiences. Her compositions often address sacred themes, making them ideal for worship, but she also has secular, popular, and jazz-influenced pieces.