Marie began playing handbells in church at age five and taking percussion lessons at age nine. During middle school, she was a percussionist with the Hutchinson Regional Youth Symphony, Hutchinson Community College Band, and Hutchinson Symphony (Kansas). At age 14, Marie was accepted as a percussion major at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she participated in Band, Orchestra, Percussion and Jazz ensembles. She graduated with a major in Psychology and minor in Percussion Performance from the University of Kansas. Since then, she has coached several different high school drumlines in Texas and Ohio, and assisted with junior and senior high concert bands. She received her Master Teacher Certificate from the University of Cincinnati in 2020. Marie has worked as the Director of National Events for Handbell Musicians of America since 2020.

She is a co-creator of MarimBell, a unique marimba and handbell duet, debuting with two concerts in summer 2025 in Kansas. Marie maintains a private studio of percussion students, including internationally known soloists Linda Krantz and Emily Li. Marie is also the percussion instructor at Wyoming High School, is a member of the Queen City Freedom Band, and is very active in her church music programs.

Marie has directed numerous handbell ensembles, with members ranging from ages 4 to 95 years old. From 2000-2006, Marie was the Assistant Director of Music at First United Methodist Church, Lawrence, KS, where she directed children’s choir and bells, a youth/college ensemble, a women’s bell ensemble, and occasionally conducted for the Chancel Choir and Main Handbell Choir. In 2014, she was a handbell co-clinician with David Harris at the Mo-Ranch PAM (Presbyterian Association of Musicians) Worship and Music Conference in Hunt, TX. She has studied conducting under Dr. John Paul Johnson, John Stanley Ross, and John Clyatt. Marie has taught malleting classes at multiple national events for Handbell Musicians of America. 

In January 2025, she spent 26 days focused on handbells and percussion in Asia. She was a guest instructor at the Hong Kong Handbell Academy, leading several workshops for children, youth, and adults, as well as working with the Academy’s top performing ensembles. She was selected as one of 12 Foreign Guest Ringers to perform in the MOB-18 Handbell Concert in Singapore. She presented handbell duets with Emily Li at a concert in Macau. In June 2026, Marie participated in the final Virtuoso with Dr. Bill Payn and the Raleigh Ringers. 

Columbus Rings is very excited to continue our musical journey and grow our skills as ringers with the leadership of Marie Clyatt-Larson!