Leisl Jaberg . . . .
joined Sonoran Bells in 2008. She started playing handbells at age 10 in a Wisconsin church group comprised of all ages, and learned right away to switch from position to position with each song. As an even younger child fascinated with bells, she was led to believe that to touch a bell without gloves would be akin to Sleeping Beauty touching the spindle (but has since found that, at least within Sonoran Bells, gloves are optional). Since then, she has played bells nearly every year and in every place she's lived. She does not mind playing bells of any size, but must admit she prefers treble. Her musical background includes piano, flute, recorder, voice, and the harp. Her musical piano-playing, bell-playing and directing mother also encouraged her towards music. Leisl is also a Drum & Bugle Corps fan and regrets never taking part personally.
Leisl moved to Tucson for
her husband's career, an adventure after living most of her lifetime in various
Midwestern locations. She is currently a Substitute Librarian with the Pima County Public Library system. Prior to moving, she was the Teen Services Librarian at the
Joliet (Illinois) Public Library for several years. She misses planning fun
programs such as Teen Food Fear Factor and Anime Club. Besides bells, Leisl reads often, with
usually two or three books going at once. She hopes to finish writing a novel
herself someday (she minored in creative writing!). She loves swimming, working
on her family’s genealogy, and working with computers on a variety of projects.
If Leisl came into an unlimited fortune, she would make a few purchases: a home,
a grand piano for her husband, and for her herself a set of bells and an alto
flute. She would then donate funds to Sonoran Bells and other groups with whom
she has played. Finally, she would set up two funds in memory of her first son, Sam—a
music scholarship fund and a fund to assist families with children in the hospital
with congenital heart defects.