Erik Freed has studied piano and double bass since childhood. He played double bass and harpsichord for fifteen years in the Prometheus Academy Chamber Orchestra, which his dad conducted.

He fell in love with handbells and began playing the bass bells for First Baptist Church in Minneapolis in 2005. He attended the AGEHR Area VII festivals in 2006 and 2008, and at the 2008 festival in Sioux Falls he premiered his first composition, Passacaglia in D Minor. The piece is a trio piece for five octaves of bells, and he is looking to have it published. This year Erik is excited to be part of Bells of the Lakes and to aspire to higher excellence in ringing.

Erik works as a software engineer for a defense contractor, and he enjoys kayaking, windsurfing, tennis and tasting fine wine.