ABOUT THE COMPOSER

“You are making such an impact on Canadian choral music. Congratulations!”
– Dr. Carol A. Beynon, Founding & Co-Artistic Director,
Amabile Boys & Men’s Choirs

“… A senior figure in the Canadian choral landscape.”
– Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Pro Coro Canada

ABOUT THE PROJECTS

VIRTUAL CHOIR – THE “AT HOME CHOIR” 2020 PROJECT

“I am so excited by the coolness of this project. I am taking part, too, and have invited some of my university students to join me. This is for everyone – and it is SO timely!  This is just the right thing at just the right moment.”
– Dr. Darryl Edwards, University of Toronto Faculty of Music & Centre for
Opera Studies and Appreciation / Centre for Opera Studies Italy

ABOUT THE MUSIC

“THE COMMANDED HEART”

“The Commanded Heart is beautiful and strong and powerful; the lyrics really come through and hit hard.”
– Willi Zwozdesky (MA/MMus), conductor TTBB festival chorus, Unison Choruses Canada|Choeurs Unisson Canada “Open Harbour |Havre Ouvert” (Halifax, NS) May, 2023

“HARP IMPROVISATION #1: INTROSPECTION”

“I just read through Introspection and love it. It works beautifully on the harp.”
– Danielle Kuntz, Harpist and New Music Curator

“COME WITH ME TO THE SEA“

“This is a lovely piece! I think for children’s choir it works especially well.”
– Laura Hawley, Composer

“MIST TO TORRENTS“

“My heart, my soul….this took my breath away….”
– Lana Skauge, Master Storyteller, Actor, Author, Drama Specialist

“❤️”
 – Spitfire Audio

“ALONE / TOGETHER“

“The piece is truly well put together…combines the elements very nicely indeed … the text is very thoughtful.”
– Jon Washburn, Founder and Conductor Emeritus,
Vancouver Chamber Choir

“A very beautiful composition; I really enjoy the harmonic choices you made. This is an interesting composition because the electronic part is so involved, it is almost a choral-orchestral type of sound. The counterpoint between the wind writing and the choral writing is effective.”
– Adjudicator, Canadian Chamber Choir competition

“SONGS OF LOVE AND DESPAIR“

“Teasdale is a wonderful poet and these are four of her masterful poems. Geoffrey Bell has spun these settings together to tell a story. It’s a beautiful set and the score is accessible for adult choirs.”
– Dr. Carol A. Beynon, Founding & Co-Artistic Director,
Amabile Boys & Men’s Choirs

“THE HELIOS TRIPTYCH“

“The piece proved to be perfect for that particular spot in that particularly-hard-to-shape programme!”
– Jon Washburn, Founder and Conductor, Vancouver Chamber Choir

“SHE’S LIKE THE SWALLOW“

“… a lovely arrangement… We are honoured to have premiered it!”
– Charlene Pauls, Director, London Pro Musica

“This famous Newfoundland folksong is given a lovely setting by Geoffrey.  The flute part really makes the swallow fly high – despite the mournful sentiment of brokenhearted love. This piece has been set by many composers and this is surely one of the best arrangements.”
– Larry Nickel, Publisher, Cypress Choral Music

“MISSA BREVIS“

“Bell’s Missa Brevis is a highly innovative and experimental work, one that stretches traditional harmonic and melodic content. Constant meter changes create tension and interest in shifting stresses in the syllables of text.

The piece uses contrapuntal, homophonic and solo textures to draw interest to the text in the new ways. And amidst the diversity in the musical content, there is a sense of unity in the work as each movement returns to the key center of E.”
– Joannie Ing, from Doctoral dissertation, York University, Toronto

“… a beautiful concert Mass… I earnestly hope one day I will hear that it has been accepted for publication.”
– Joan Leslie, Publisher, Leslie Music Supply

“… beautiful and extremely well-crafted… Exceptional!”
– Kelly Dobbs Mickus, Associate Editor, GIA Publications

“… an admirer of your work… Your Missa Brevis is wonderful!”
– Ruth Wiwchar, Executive Director, Canadian International Publications

“PRELUDE FOR ORGAN AND TRUMPET“

“…wonderful, serious work…”
– Robert J Batastini, Senior Editor, GIA Publications

WORKS FOR CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

“I did a fair bit of adjudicating over the years and enjoyed hearing your children’s choir music!”
 – Nancy Telfer, composer, clinician and adjudicator

“SNOW AND ICE” (first movement of the Canadian Seasons Song Cycle)

“…  a very evocative and effective piece.”
 – Diane Loomer, Publisher, Cypress Publishing

“CARING AND SHARING“

“This song really works!”
– Elaine Quilichini, Adjudicator, Choral Days – Calgary