Representing handbell ringers from Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina

and promoting the musical art of handbell ringing

Board Election Results 2021

Jun 13, 2021 | Uncategorized

Your New Chair-Elect

The Chair-Elect position is for two years before becoming Chair. As the “Chair-in-training” the Chair-Elect will perform duties as assigned by the Board or as specified in the Area’s Governance document.

Kerry Johnston is Director of Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Cary, North Carolina. At First Methodist, he oversees a music ministry of 400 participants from kindergarten through adult, with a graded handbell program of over 80 participants. He served churches in Texas and Arkansas, before moving to North Carolina. Kerry holds a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a Master of Sacred Music jointly from Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Kerry has
been involved with handbells since 1974, when he borrowed a 2-octave set of Petit & Fritsen bells to spur interest in the church he was serving. That started a long association with handbells and bell ringers. Kerry served previously on the AGEHR Area VI board as Arkansas State Chair. He was the founding director of Ozark Bronze, an auditioned community ensemble in Northwest Arkansas. Kerry has conducted massed ringing at festivals and taught numerous classes at workshops. He is also a composer and arranger, with handbell pieces currently in print with Beckenhorst Press, Lorenz Publishing, and Choristers Guild. In Kerry’s own words, “It would truly be an honor to serve as Chair Elect and Chair for Handbell Musicians of America Area 3. I would enjoy the opportunity to give back to this organization that has given me so much over the past forty years. If elected, I would like to see Area 3 explore offering some smaller, regional events, and also work on ways to reach ringers and choirs that are not currently a part of our membership.”

Your New At-Large Board Members

The primary job of the Area Board is to establish policies that connect membership needs and desires with the output of the organization. The Board governs with an emphasis on outward vision rather than internal preoccupation, collective decisions, and being future-oriented and proactive.

Neesa Hart has been ringing bells for 45 years. “There is nothing else,” she admits, “that I have stuck with this long — not even relationships! So, I guess, you could say, I am a ‘long-hauler.'” As someone who has always loved the inclusivity of the instrument, Neesa’s work in Handbells reflects that. She is the programming director for the Stafford Regional Handbell Society – and bears responsibility for the organization and planning of the Society’s 6 youth ensembles and 5 adult ensembles. “It is important to me that we have a place for every ringer. From 1st grade to Senior Citizen, students with special needs and professional musicians, we offer ensembles for every person who has a desire to make music with handbells.” She is also the co-creator of The Great Christmas Ring, a collaborative event that brings handbell musicians together to perform in large public spaces — most recently, at Carnegie Hall in 2019. “I believe,” Neesa says, “that the secret to building an audience and a following for our instrument is to put it out there for people to see. Novices are always fascinated by the bells. There is a certain magic to watching a group of people perform on a single instrument. The more we give the public quality music and performances, the more the public can appreciate the beauty of what we do. For me, the beauty of handbell ringing goes so far beyond the sound of the music. It is in the visual appeal. It is in the community that exists among an ensemble and, even, the handbell community at large. I can’t imagine my life without handbells in it — and I am deeply driven to spread that joy to others.”

In her tenure as an At-Large Area 3 Board Member, Neesa has been instrumental in several new initiatives. She played a key role in organizing the 2020 virtual Director’s Seminar. She has spearheaded a policy to broaden Area 3’s pool of workshop presenters for festivals and events, she, and the Coordinator of Events, are formulating ideas for an advanced youth ringing event and an advanced ringing event for individual adults. “I love serving on the board of Area 3 for so many reasons,” she says. “I love hearing what is going on with bells across our region. I love networking with, and resourcing for, other directors. I love facilitating new choirs that are just beginning their journey and celebrating with the veterans as they reach new heights of achievement and enjoy milestones of accomplishments. As an at-large member, it is exciting to talk about the future of bells in our area and lay groundwork for a vibrant and healthy ringing culture in years to come.”

Neesa is an advocate of handbells and large public performances. She is working with the National Park Service to bring a mass ringing event to the steps of the US Capitol for New Year’s of 2022, and to Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing arts for its December season. She is also partnering with Walt Disney World Resorts for a Christmas 2021 opportunity, with Carnegie Hall for a return of the Great Christmas Ring, and with Global Bronze Productions to bring non-seasonal ringing opportunities to world stages.

“If I have one goal for handbells,” she says, “and I realize this a little unorthodox – it is to replace in people’s minds the quintessential ‘Dicken’s Carolers Quartet’ as the go-to Christmas musical performance. While I love bells year- round, I recognize that bringing an audience into an awareness of what bells can do, and how they can sound, and what a world-class performance looks like – begins with meeting an audience where they are comfortable. There is a reason the Hershey Company got push back on the changes to their iconic handbell ad this year. People love to hear bells at Christmas. By tapping into that – we can help them love to hear, and play, bells beyond the Christmas season.”

That is the energy, vitality and vision Neesa plans to bring to the Area 3 Board in the next term. “We are emerging from a long period of silence and meditation. As the sun comes up on our next chapter, it is time, as we say in Stafford, to ‘grab your bells and get out there.’ The world needs the sense of community and joy handbell ringing provides. We have been isolated for so long, that the vibrancy of ringing together brings a new meaning to our musicianship.” The motto of the Stafford Regional Handbell Society is, “Every Ringer Counts.” That is the same vision Neesa brings to the Area 3 Board. “I love the inclusivity of handbells,” she says, “and that is the energy I look forward to harnessing with the Area 3 Board as we strive to make plans and create an environment where every Handbell Musician in our region has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”

Tammera Missell has been an active member of Virginia Handbell Consort for 6 years and Handbell Musicians of America 7. She started ringing handbells 30 years ago and has a passion for ringing. She first started ringing handchimes in middle school at FUMC in Kerrville, Texas, and was invited to join the adult handbell choir in 9th grade. Tammera started playing piano as a young girl and picked up the clarinet in the 6th grade (only because the band director would not let her start on oboe!).  She finally switched to oboe in the 7th grade and continued through her junior year of college, while also playing baritone in marching band. After a break from music while serving our country in the U.S. Navy and having a child, she joined one of the handbell choirs at FUMC Round Rock, Texas and continued to grow as a musician. Tammera is the handbell director at Trinity United Methodist Church in Smithfield, and enjoys ringing at various churches in Hampton Roads as a solo ringer. She is always looking for ways to bring the art of handbell ringing to others and expand the art of ringing. She enjoys thinking outside the box and problem solving, which is a must as a director!  Tammera holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. When she’s not ringing handbells or directing, she enjoys being a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, spending time outdoors, spending time with family, and traveling!

Dottie Tweedie
Having grown up in north Richmond, VA, surrounded with church music, it was discovered early that I had a “talent” for directing. The story is told, according to my father, that as an 8(ish) year old, I began “conducting” my mother’s church choir from the front pew of the sanctuary while sitting alone during the morning worship service. Dad sang bass, and even though he and the rest of the choir could clearly see my antics, my mother was kept in the dark for several months, until someone in the congregation commented, “she’s so cute, sitting up there directing the choir!”  

For all the years of piano lessons, school band (flute), show choir, and an apparent knack for things musical, my main interest in college was biology, ending up with a science degree from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, NC. To keep from becoming a total science nerd, I sang in the college choir and by the time I was a senior, was the Music Department’s head secretary.

I came home to New Kent County in 1975 to take over the directing duties at Mom’s church in Hanover Co. It was there that I first encountered handbells when a church member said, “I just heard the most wonderful thing at the church I was visiting last week! We have to get some handbells… here’s $800 to get it started!” Charged with learning everything I could about bells, raising funds and recruiting the first bell choir, the church purchased 3 octaves of Schulmerich bells a year later in 1989. I “retired” from church work after 25 years to finally enjoy some free Sundays.

I am the founding director of The James River Ringers, an auditioned community group based in Richmond, VA since 1998. I have taught a variety of classes at Handbell Musicians of America’s Area III Adult Festivals, Directors Seminars and Bravissimo!, and led JRR’s many Ringer Workshops for beginning and advanced ringers. I have also served as the guest conductor for the Genesis track at HMA’s Ocean City Festival in March of 2011. When AGEHR dropped Pinnacle, I was instrumental in establishing Bravissimo!, Area III’s event dedicated to community and performing groups, and twice served as program chair for that event.

In 2016 I handed over JRR’s baton to step down into “retirement” although I am still active in supporting the group. At the end of 2016 I retired from my real job of working as the office manager for a residential building contractor.

After years of having other obligations vie for my time, I now feel like at this point in my life I have the flexibility to put my talents to use for Area III. Although I have been out of the loop for the past several years, I come with over 30 years of exposure to bells, both from the learning at the beginning to becoming knowledgeable and proficient toward the end. Area III and HMA have been the main source of my bell education, and I feel it still has a vital role in supporting and growing the art.

Your New Treasurer

The Treasurer handles all the financial matters of the Area including routine banking functions, budget planning, regular status reporting, and meeting annual IRS requirements.

Leslie Lewis has been ringing handbells since 1979 when she was introduced to them at the Montreat Worship and Music Conference. Leslie has been ringing in the bass section for Distinctly Bronze East since the event began in 1999 and participated in the Distinctly Bronze European Tour in 2007 and added Distinctly Bronze West in 2019. She has rung low bass in many area and national All Star Choirs and rang low bass at Virtuoso 2017 and 2019 sharing the stage with the Raleigh Ringers for the final concert.

Leslie is currently ringing with Queen City Ringers based in Charlotte, NC (currently serving as treasurer of the group) and is serving as the Treasurer for Area 3 of the Handbell Musicians of America.  She enjoys substituting for choirs in the Gastonia and Charlotte area and dabbles in solo ringing. Having added the lower 6th and 7th octave chimes to her growing set of handbell ‘toys’ she hopes to offer her services to add the lower chimes for groups that don’t have them available once ringing returns to ‘normal’ in the area.

After graduating from NC State with a degree in computer science, Leslie worked for IBM and First Union National Bank for a combined 15 years before turning a part-time role preparing income taxes into a career.  Leslie is currently President of Unified Income Taxes and Accounting, Inc in Gastonia, NC where she prepares all types of tax returns and as an Enrolled Agent represents clients during IRS tax audits and appeals. In 2015, Leslie added the role of Chief Accounting Officer for a commercial aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul station located in Medley, FL. 

Outside of bells Leslie enjoys playing golf and walking on the beach as a precursor to life after retirement.

In Leslie’s own words on why she would like to be Area 3 Treasurer – “When I assumed the role of Area 3 Treasurer in 2017 I noticed several anomalies in the accounting software and have made great strides in standardizing the accounting and cleaning up outstanding entries, but still have more I would like to see done to help future treasurers and simplify their job. Also, as someone who is passionate about ringing I want to continue working with the board to strengthen our financial position while growing our membership again.”

Thank you for helping to further the work of Area 3 by participating in this important election for your Board members.

Paul Brill, Area 3 Chair

Kerry Johnston is Director of Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Cary, North Carolina. At First Methodist, he oversees a music ministry of 400 participants from kindergarten through adult, with a graded handbell program of over 80 participants. He served churches in Texas and Arkansas, before moving to North Carolina. Kerry holds a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a Master of Sacred Music jointly from Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Kerry has been involved with handbells since 1974, when he borrowed a 2-octave set of Petit & Fritsen bells to spur interest in the church he was serving. That started a long association with handbells and bell ringers. Kerry served previously on the AGEHR Area VI board as Arkansas State Chair, and on the HMA Area 3 board as North Carolina State Chair. He was the founding director of Ozark Bronze, an auditioned community ensemble in Northwest Arkansas. Kerry has conducted massed ringing at festivals and taught numerous classes at workshops. He is also a composer and arranger, with handbell pieces currently in print with Beckenhorst Press, Lorenz Publishing, and Choristers Guild.

Debra LeBrun received her B. Mus. from Syracuse University and her M.M. in Organ Performance from the University of Illinois at  Urbana/Champaign. In October 2010 she became the full-time Director of Music and Worship for Raleigh Court United Methodist Church in Roanoke, VA after serving for 24 years as the Minister of Music for the Congregational Church of Littleton, MA. She has been a professional musician for over 30 years, working as a church music director and organist, conductor, accompanist, director for musical theater and opera productions, teacher of piano and organ, and as a handbell clinician. Debra’s love affair with handbells began in college and handbells have played an important role in her life ever since. She is the Director of the Mill Mountain Ringers and performs regularly as a handbell soloist. Debra has served on the Handbell Musicians of America Area I Board as Secretary and Chair and the Area 3 Board as State Chair, Member-at-large, and Webmaster, as well as being involved in organizing and teaching at many handbell events throughout New England and in Virginia. She has attended seven International Handbell Symposiums and was selected to be in the All-Star Choir representing the United States at the 2012 International Symposium in Liverpool, England.

Neesa Hart began playing handbells in 4th grade at First Baptist Church in Richmond, VA. After six years of highly unsuccessful piano lessons, she persuaded her mother to let her make the switch. Thus began a life-long love of handbell musicianship and the relationships, experiences, and musical camaraderie that comes with ringing. She is the program manager for the Stafford Regional Handbell Society — a community ringing organization in the Fredericksburg, VA area. She is responsible for concert planning for the Society’s 9 ringing ensembles, inventory and maintenance of the equipment, and administration of the Society’s Bells After School program — a music instruction program for elementary – high school age students using handbell ringing to teach advanced musical concepts. Founded in 2005, the Society’s youth ringing program enjoys a national reputation for musical excellence and innovation. She is also the organizer for the National Honors Handbell Ensemble, a national youth ringing event the Society sponsors. She is the co-creator of The Great Christmas ring, a mass ringing event for handbells held world wide annually. She has also served AREA 3 in various volunteer capacities as equipment chair and workshop chair for several events. Neesa hopes to bring her commitment for innovations in youth ringing and growth for Handbell Musicians of America to the Area 3 Board. Handbell musicians need innovative solutions to sustaining and growing handbell ringing programs. Thinking beyond the walls of the church, new approaches to community ringing, and a commitment to viable and sustainable youth ringing programs is essential to the future of Handbell musicianship. She would like to serve the members of Area 3 by equipping existing handbell programs to grow and thrive, and by identifying underserved populations and establishing handbell ringing programs at the local level.

Kevin B. Chamberlain serves as Minister of Music and Organist Avenue United Methodist Church, Milford, DE. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, and a Master of Music in Church Music with an emphasis in Organ Performance from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Beginning December 1, 2019, Kevin will be starting a doctoral degree in Worship from the Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida. Kevin works part-time at POLYTECH High School in Woodside, DE where he teaches all of the choral classes and several music technology classes throughout the year. He serves as the Assistant Director/Accompanist for the Mispillion Children’s Chorus; a non-profit organization providing educational and inspirational music to children ages 6-12yrs old. Kevin serves as the co-Director of the Lay Servant Academy for the Dover District Board of Laity in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is on the faculty of the Music School of Delaware where he teaches private and group piano lessons. He also maintains a small private piano and organ studio with several high school students. Kevin is involved with various professional music organizations where he serves in various capacities. He has long been an active member of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, the American Choral Directors’ Association, as well as the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada.

Musician, teacher, composer, and conductor with a degree in Music composition from Towson University, Beau Lochte currently directs three handbell programs and teaches over 20 piano students. He arranges original, popular and symphonic music for handbells including Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. He also performs regularly as a solo ringer and in chamber ensembles. In 2013 Mr. Lochte founded Charm City Bronze Handbell Ensemble (CCB) in Baltimore, MD. This exciting group ranges in age from youth to adult and performed alongside Arsis Youth Handbell Ensemble from Estonia in 2014. CCB has twice participated in the annual Festival of Trees to benefit the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland and has also live-streamed concerts from unique venues in Baltimore such as the historic Bromo Seltzer Tower, the Pagoda in Patterson Park and the Palm House at the HP Rawlings Conservatory.

Blaine Russell, North Carolina State Chair of Area 3, has served as the Director of Music at Fletcher United Methodist Church in Fletcher, NC since 2013, where he directs the Memorial Handbell Choir and Chancel Choir.  He also serves as the Director of the Blue Ridge Ringers, an advanced community ensemble based in Hendersonville, NC.

Reggie Fox serves as the Director of Music for First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA where he directs the choirs and FBC Handbell Ringers. He is a talented musician, conductor, composer, choreographer, and singer. Also, he works part-time as the Educational Technology Specialist for the Virginia Department of Education providing leadership with innovative technologies and virtual learning. Mr. Fox serves on several boards and participates with non-profit organizations giving back to the community.

Sarah Sheffield's start into handbells began like so many folks out there. In 1994 her church purchased a set of handbells. Since she could read music, she was on the short list of recruits. Thankfully she jumped at the chance as she has been playing bells ever since. Sarah currently rings with Queen City Ringers (since 2002 and is currently President) and with The Raleigh Ringers (2017 was her first year!). Even though she works for an Insurance Agency to pay for her handbell addiction, Sarah received a Music Education degree from Wingate University where her principal instrument was French Horn and secondary instrument was flute. She lives near Charlotte with her husband, Milton, who is a fellow ringer. Handbell highlights include: 3 performances at Disney World directing the Weddington UMC Youth Handbell Ensemble; participation in Distinctly Bronze East since 2002 and Distinctly Bronze West since 2014-2017; performing the National Anthem for the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers; and performing onstage with the Raleigh Ringers as part of Virtuoso 2013 and 2015.

Karen Eggert is retired from her 25+ year career as a librarian for the International Monetary Fund and now serves as the Area 3 historian/archivist helping to organize, preserve and make accessible the Area 3 historical materials for future handbell ringers. She also has a 20+ year stint ringing handbells with various choirs and currently rings with the Anacrusis Handbell Ensemble and duets with Chesapeake Bronze. These efforts have culminated in participating in numerous Distinctly Bronze events, Area 3 festival choirs and International Handbell Festivals.

Laura Blauch started playing handbells in 1978, in her hometown of Emmaus, PA. Laura continued to ring after moving to Maryland, and in 2002, she was asked to form and direct a new handbell choir, as her church had received a memorial gift to purchase a new set of handbells. Laura began attending workshops and festivals, and quickly discovered that she loves directing as much as ringing! Laura moved to NC in 2006, and currently directs the Chancel Bells and sings in various choirs at Davidson United Methodist Church in Davidson, NC. Laura has a B.A. in Sacred Music (voice) from Lebanon Valley College and a Masters of General Administration from University of Maryland University College. She is a Senior Financial Analyst with HP. Laura is married to Dave, a Professor of Chemistry at Davidson College and bass ringer in Laura’s bell choir, has 2 wonderful children, Tim and Katie, 4 cats, and in her spare time, loves to play tennis.

Bio Coming Soon

Gail Williams received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota where she studied flute and piano.  After college, Gail relocated to Washington, DC where she joined the Bethesda United Methodist Church sanctuary choir and gave flute and piano lessons. She also sang for ten years with the Choral Arts Society of Washington under the direction of Norman Scribner. The highlight of that period was the invitation to sing at the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Gail's day job is as the Director of Accounting Operations for Bernstein Management Corporation.  She continues to sing in the BUMC Sanctuary Choir, rings "as needed" with the professional handbell ensemble Capital Carillon and has been the director of BUMC's Bethesda Bells since 2007

Gregg Bogovich designs all of the floor plans for Area 3 festivals. He has been listening to handbells since 1996, and has been the unofficial roadie and videographer for his sister Lynn’s various handbell groups, including Anacrusis and the Community United Methodist Church in Crofton, MD.

Allison Keisler is the Choral and Handbell Director at Bandys High School in Catawba, North Carolina, where she has devoted all 23 years of her teaching career. A passionate advocate for handbell music education, Allison launched the school’s handbell program during her very first year by successfully petitioning to redirect funds earmarked for textbooks toward the purchase of a 3-octave set of handbells. Under her leadership, the program has grown dramatically and now includes 5 octaves of handbells and 7 octaves of handchimes—making it the largest youth handbell education program in Catawba County, both sacred and secular.
Allison's commitment to handbells extends beyond the classroom. She is a performing member of The Raleigh Ringers, an internationally renowned advanced community handbell ensemble based in Raleigh, NC. From 2020 to 2022, she served as President of the Board of Directors for The Raleigh Ringers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, the organization raised a total of $44,129.83 in donations. When COVID-19 changed the world, The Raleigh Ringers remained dedicated to their craft while being mindful of the challenges others were facing. Working closely with partners and venues, Allison helped guide difficult decisions to cancel all spring concerts and the summer tour, with many events postponed until 2021. During her tenure, she also spearheaded a comprehensive rewrite of The Raleigh Ringers' bylaws to include greater community member participation.
She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Appalachian State University and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Through her teaching, performance, and advocacy, Allison has become a leading figure in youth handbell education in North Carolina.

Mark Gourley is the Organist and Choirmaster of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville, VA. Having been a Church Musician for over 40 years, he has served churches in NC and VA. He is a graduate of Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, NC where he earned a BS in Music Education and did extensive graduate study in Sacred Music at East Carolina University.  He also holds Levels I and II Orff-Schulwerk Certification.
He has directed Children, Youth and Adult Handbell Choirs throughout his Church Music Career.  Handbell Choirs under his direction have performed in the White House, the NC State Capitol and the NC Governor’s Mansion.
He has previously served on the Area 3 Board of the HMA as NC State Chair, Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair.  Besides his work on Festivals, he has taught classes on the Area and National level. In the Spring of 2016, he was a Conductor of the Genesis division of the Chesapeake Festival.  He has conducted a number of local festivals in NC and VA. Mark was Coordinator of the NC United Methodist Handbell Festival for a number of years.

Kyler Brengle, Music Director at Westminster United Methodist Church (WUMC), is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned both a BS and MS in Music Education. His responsibilities at WUMC include directing all vocal choirs, children through adult, and the church’s 5-octave adult handbell choir. Kyler was a member of the Westminster Ringers, an auditioned community handbell ensemble, from 2006-2016, serving on their Board of Directors and as Assistant Music Director. He was the guest conductor for the Holston River Handbell Festival in Kingsport, TN in October 2017, and served as Area 3 Chair from 2015-2017.

Teri Gregory has been ringing since the Fall of 1992 when her church acquired their first set of handbells and a call went out for ringers.  She had no idea what a handbell was but she missed the opportunity to play her flute and piccolo and was looking for other musical outlets.  Handbells quickly became a passion.  In 2009, Teri attended her first Distinctly Bronze East.  The high level bronze ringing and handbell community found at the event was transformative and she has attended nearly every Distinctly Bronze East since then.  Teri has also participated in several Distinctly Bronze West events, Virtuoso 2019, International Symposium 2022, and many Area 3 and Area 1 festivals.  Teri currently rings with Capital Carillon, as well as continuing to ring with her church choir, Jubilate Bronze, as one of only 2 founding members of the choir still active in the group.  Over the years, Teri has also expanded her handbell experience to include solo, duet and quartet music and she has recently developed a passion for bell trees.  To support her handbell habit, Teri is the lead thermal systems engineer for NASA’s Exploration and In-Space Services Division at the Goddard Space Flight Center and she keeps busy with her wonderful husband and two children.

Patricia Lane - Music has been a hugely important part of her life since she started playing trombone in 1967.  While she still plays trombone in  her church orchestra today, handbells are her passion now.  Patricia first saw handbells in 1980 at a post chapel on Fort Ord in California, but with one bell per person (she thinks she got an accidental that didn’t play at all in that first rehearsal), she didn't see the appeal (pun intended) and didn't go back.  Fast forward to 2004; Pat was invited to ring when her church started a second bell choir and she was hooked!!  She was fortunate enough to start out ringing next to someone with good technique and teaching skills.  Looking for more ringing opportunities, Patricia put her name on the Area 3 substitute list.  This turned out to be an excellent strategy, as she now rings with two of the groups that called her to substitute from that list.  Contacts in those groups got Patricia involved in three additional ensembles, Distinctly Bronze, and other Handbell Musicians of America events.  Patricia currently rings with two community groups, two church choirs, a small ensemble, Area 1's bronze orphans, and at Distinctly Bronze.  That makes de-conflicting Christmas concerts a real challenge, but her normal week is filled with bell rehearsals and she’s happy.  She gets to play on White Chapel, Malmark, and Schulmerich bells in various positions, so she is always being challenged.  Ringing bells has broadened Patricia’s musical experience and knowledge in so many ways that it is hard to imagine life without them.  Patricia’s life is richer for being part of the bell-ringing world, an experience she wants to share with as many people as she can talk into joining her there!

Alan Payne started his handbell journey about 18 years ago when his kids were playing handbells at Fairfax United Methodist Church.  Church policy required a 2nd adult present for all youth-related activities and Alan became bell-dad.  Since he had played instruments before, the director often asked him to fill in when a ringer was absent and that was all he needed to get hooked.  Alan soon began ringing with the adult choir at the church and slinging the low bass bells.  After his 3rd child left for college, Alan auditioned for a community group in Northern Virginia.  He rang with them for 4 seasons and also served as Vice President and President.  In September of 2020 Alan formed Music To Free, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to teach handbells at low/fixed income senior living centers.  These programs are provided at no cost to the residents or the facilities.  In 2022, to help fund these programs, Alan formed Bronze Unlimited, a new community ensemble for advanced ringers.  In addition to doing public concerts, Bronze Unlimited does private events and community outreach events.  Bronze Unlimited’s May concerts, Hope & Remembrance – a concert for those affected by cancer, will help raise money for Music To Free as well as local cancer support groups.

Brian Childers is an accomplished composer whose works are performed throughout the world. He is in demand as a clinician and conductor. His easy-going style and teaching expertise quickly connects with ringers of all ages who respond with enthusiasm and energy. He currently serves as Director of Children and Youth Music at Myers Park United Methodist in Charlotte, NC where he conducts 7 handbell choirs. Brian is an avid runner and a rabid fan of the San Antonio Spurs. You can learn more about Brian and his compositions at BrianChilders.org.

Pepper Choplin is a full-time composer, conductor and humorist. With a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His published works includes over 300 anthems for church and school choir with 20 church cantatas and two books of piano arrangements. Since 2013, he has conducted several cantatas with choir and full orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City; and at Meymandi Hall in Raleigh, NC. He also visits many schools, churches, and conferences to conduct and to entertain.

Nick Hanson received a BA degree from Concordia University, Irvine, CA, as a major in music with concentration in handbells. He is in his twelfth year as the director of handbell ensembles at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, teaching instrumental music to 5th – 12th grade students in four handbell ensembles. He is also in his tenth year as the handbell director at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Nick has served as faculty, clinician, and conductor at handbell events in 13 states, Washington DC, and internationally in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. In 2015, Nick was chosen as the first-ever Associate Conductor for Distinctly Bronze, under the mentorship of renowned conductor, Dr. William A. Payn, and, he also conducted the Distinctly Teen ensemble at the Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar in Dallas, Texas. This summer, he will be the co-conductor for the 2018 All-Star Handbell Ensemble at the National Seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has written articles for the national handbell magazine “Overtones”, and has arranged and composed over 40 pieces of handbell music.

Linda Lamb has been involved with handbells since 1992, as director, ringer, and composer. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Carson-Newman College (now University) with a minor in music, and a Master of Church Music with handbell emphasis from Concordia University Wisconsin. She is the founder and list owner of the Frustrated Friends of Finale (FFF), a mailing list for users of the computer music program who mostly compose and arrange for handbells. She has numerous handbell publications to her credit. She is married with two grown children and two grandchildren.

Ann Cameron Pearce has directed handbells at Highland UMC in Raleigh, NC since 1987, developing one of the most accomplished church choirs (comprised of adults spanning five decades) in the Triangle. A Raleigh native, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from UNC-CH and a Master’s from Duke Divinity School. She is a founding member (1986) of the Raleigh Flute Choir, in which she specializes in contrabass flute. She is a freelance performer and served twenty years as flute instructor at Saint Mary’s School. In 2011, she and one of her sons established an online sheet music publishing company, ScoreVivo.

Al Reese has been the Musical Director of Virginia Handbell Consort since January 2008, has taught classes for ringers and directors at Handbell Musicians of America Area 2 and 3 events and has served as Massed Conductor for such events as La Plata, MD, Hampton (Genesis), Ringing at the Springs, Virginia Baptist Handbell Festival, and Area 3 Roanoke Festival. He was selected as the Associate Conductor for Distinctly Bronze East, 2015.

Al is a published composer and holds a Master of Church Music Degree with concentration in Handbells from Concordia University, Wisconsin where he studied with William Payn, John Behnke, and Arnold Sherman. He is currently an Adjunct Instructor in the Music Department of Norfolk State University teaching private Trumpet, Piano and Music Theory, and serves as the Music Director/Organist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Suffolk, VA.

Debbie Henning has been involved with handbells for over 50 years as both a ringer and a director. Besides ringing with the Westminster Ringers & directing Accelerando – both ensembles of Westminster Ringer, Inc., she is the Director of Music at Grace UMC in Gaithersburg, MD and coHandbell Director at the Westminster Church of the Brethren in Westminster, MD. Debbie serves as Managing Director and Treasurer for the Westminster Ringers, Inc.  In the past she served Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 as their Maryland State Chair, Treasurer, and Coordinator of Events for over 10 years. In addition to her musical activities, Debbie loves to quilt, sew, cross stitch and care for her three young grandchildren.

Kath Wissinger embraces all aspects of bells–director, teacher, ringer, composer. Directing since 1988–advanced teen groups, young beginners, adults, community group, grades 4-8–she creates a wide swath of music for her diverse groups, plus commissions and pieces that simply catch her fancy. Well-known for unique originals and fresh arrangements–as well as unique series that include pedagogical pieces written over her 15 years of teaching–she also loves a good challenge in writing for solo/small ensemble, belltree, double choir; including voices and instruments; and adapting pop and movie themes. Her publishing company “ringTrue” features all these and more.