Who's Who in Handbells
An informational list

(TS) TEMPO SETTERS is the title given to a series of videos made to preserve AGEHR and
handbell history in the U.S.  These videos feature interviews and narratives of past presidents,
Honorary Life members, and others who have had an impact on handbells.

"*" indicates the person is deceased.

Use the Alpha button below to take you to the person you wish to find.

Community Groups are listed in ALL CAPS.

Colleges and Universities are listed in bold face type.




 
 
 
 Abad, Francisco -- Aibonito Puerto Rico 00708  AGEHR Composer 

Adcock, Albert  --  Worthington OH 43235  AGEHR Composer 

AGAPE RINGERS, THE  -  Carol Stream, IL  -  Director, David L. Weck  - www.agaperingers.org

ALLEGRO HANDBELL ENSEMBLE  -  www.allegrobells.org

Alexander. Bill  --  218-729-8434,   Strikept@cpinternet.com, http://www.strikepoint.com   --  Bill Alexander has been director of handbells at First United Methodist Church in Duluth, Minnesota for the past 25 years. His program there includes ringers of all ages and ability levels in five choirs. At the top is Strikepoint, an ensemble which has toured extensively throughout Hawaii, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, England, Scotland, Wales and most regions of the continental United States.  In his non-handbell life, Alexander is a band director for Duluth's Marshall School, an independent college preparatory school where his bands consistently earn praise and superior ratings for their musicianship, energy, and professionalism.  Bill is a former AreaChairman of AGEHR, and an internationally known handbell clinician and conductor with a reputation for musicality and fun.  

ALLELUIA BELLS  -  LaGrande, OR  -  Director, Phyllis Tincher  -   ptincher@coni.com  - 

Allen, David M., 8256 Fraim Court, Orlando, FL 32825-8230  --  (407) 275-7884 --  http://www.david-m-allen.com --  david@david-m-allen.com --  A leading innovator in solo handbell ringing, David has developed methods to play multiple parts in a solo setting. His book, "Advanced Solo Ringing: Multiple Bell Techniques," teaches these unique skills along with the requirements for their mastery. With these techniques, a pleasing array of melody and harmony, descant, or counterpoint is made possible, allowing solo bells to be heard unaccompanied or as accompaniment to a singer in addition to the traditional piano accompaniment. With his wife, Cheryl, David has performed handbell concerts and conducted solo handbell workshops at numerous handbell events in the Southeast and nationally, including AGEHR and Handbell Exploration International events. He supports his handbell habit as a manufacturing engineer. 

Alford, Martha K. -- MKAlford88@msn.com   --  Martha Alford holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Houghton College and a Master of Flute Performance from the University of Idaho. Martha first rang bells at age 17 on the music staff at Camp-of-the-Woods. She spent 7 years as handbell director at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, and developed a secondary school music theory and history curriculum using bells as practical application. Currently, Martha directs four handbell ensembles and the instrumental ensemble at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA. She also founded and directs the auditioned community ensemble, Main Line Ringers. She directs the middle and high school band program at Delaware County Christian School, maintains a large private flute studio, and is Mom to two energetic boys, Michael and Ryan. Martha is a past AGEHR Pennsylvania State Representative, and a past Area IV Membership Chairman.

Allen, Paul  4015 Evalita Way Sacramento CA 95823-5062  PAllen@edcenter.egusd.k12.ca.us  -- musicallen@sbcglobal.net -- pwallen@gotnet.net -  Music Educator, Conductor, Composer --  Paul has taught handbells at the MS level for nearly twenty years and is presently at the James Rutter Middle School.  He has administered the Sacramento Spring Ring for nearly 20 years.  Founded River Bells, a community handbell ensemble (www.riverbells.org) and the Concert Carillons Handbell Choir at James Rutter.

Allen, Richard L.  310 Willa Road Newark DE 19711-4905 (302) 368-0120  1977 Music Chairman 

Allured, Donald E    (TS) 2007 E Gadsden St #205 Pensacola FL 32051  (850) 444-9030 MaestroDon@aol.com   --  Don started working with handbells in 1963 in connection with his profession as a church Minister of Music. He founded the Wesleyan Bell Choir at First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles, LA, the only bell choir that has concertized in all 50 states.  He has devoted his full time to handbell work since1976, travelling the country doing workshops and concerts and has been a leader in establishing a standard of excellence for handbell choirs.   Don is a Past President of AGEHR, Inc., serving 1973-75.  From 1978-1988 he was a faculty member of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, where he developed a full curriculum in handbell Leadership Training, and founded the Westminster Concert Bell Choir, a ten-member group which did its concert tours with a 7 and 1/2 octave set comprising 90 bells.  He is author of the methods and resource book entitled Mastering Musicianship in Handbells, referred to as "The Encylopedia of Handbells."  He also is founder of the prestigious WEEK OF HANDBELLS held in August of each year in Bay View, Michigan for more than 20 years.  He continues to support the work and goals of the AGEHR. Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Clinician, Author 

AMBASSADOR COMMUNITY CHOIR -- Fremont, NE -- Director, Joyce Miller -- jmiller@tconl.com

AMERICAN BRONZE  -   Springfield, IL  -  Director, Michael Lamb  -  Contact, Michael Lamb  -  MLBell@webtv.net  - 

ANACRUSIS  -  Millersville, MD  -  Director, Lynn Bogovich  - Anacrusis -  Contact Lynn Bogovich - lbogovich@comcast.net - www.anacrusis.org - (410) 923-6520 

Anderson, Christine   vbronze@pacbell.com -- www.voicesinbronze.com  --  Christine began her handbell ringing career at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in late 1972. After completing a B.A. in music at Florida Atlantic University, she started directing her own handbell choirs as well as conducting workshops and festivals around the country.  Christine rang her first handbell solo, "The Lord's Prayer", at a talent show at Coral Ridge in 1980, discovering the gift that would define her life's work; she has thrilled audiences in 25 countries and 49 states, including many television appearances.  Besides having published 95 solo handbell arrangements, including 3 solo collections and a clarinet book,Christine has also produced 4 videos, a DVD in live concert, and 4 CDs, all reflecting her commitment to excellence in handbell ringing. Currently, she is the Artist in Residence at The Master's College in Santa Clarita, California, and annually receives an award from ASCAP in the Concert Division. "Songs for the Solo Ringer" book and videos have paved the way for countless ringers to discover the joy of solo ringing. A member of AGEHR for over 30 years, Christine has served as guest clinician at many AGEHR-sponsored events, and continues to support the work of the Guild. In 1984 she founded, and continues to ring in, the Medallion Ringers, a professional 4-in-hand quartet. Christine is the mother of four grown children, grandmother of eight; wife of Dr. Ross S. Anderson, who is a professor at The Master's College, and teacher/lecturer on the creation/evolution issue. Her hobbies include reading, counted cross-stitching, knitting, sewing, making jewelry, baking pies, skiing, hiking.

Anderson, Marlene M.  340 Kelson Drive Atlanta GA 30327-     (404) 956-8409  1986-89 Mmb. Chm. 

Anraku, Akira  28-6 Komatsubara 2-chrome Kagashima-shi Kagashima-ken JAPAN 891-01  AGEHR Composer 

* Anschicks, Phyllis   2838 S. Patton Court Denver CO 80236-       1972 Publication Editor 

Aquinas College  -   Grand Rapids, MI - www.aquinas.edu

Arai, Hirotaka  -- Oyama-Shi Tochigi-Ken Japan  AGEHR Composer 

Armstrong, James  --  Albuquerque NM 87111  AGEHR Composer 

Asbury College - Wilmore, KY  -  http://www.asbury.edu/

ATLANTA CONCERT RINGERS - Atlanta, GA - www.TheAtlantaConcertRingers.org

AUSTIN HANDBELL ENSEMBLE  -  Austin, TX  -  Director, Bob Avant  -  Contact, Linda Rutherford  -  Austinbells@yahoo.com   -  ahe.webjump.com  -  326-2575 

Avery,   Martha  --    marthaa@bright.net   --  Martha Avery is a retired public school music educator.  While teaching in MI her school won the National Exemplary Handbell/Handchime Award twice.  She is presently serving AGEHR (2000), Area V as Chair, is the Area Rep to National Bd. for the paired Areas of III and V.  Martha is also the Rep to the National Board for all Areas and is a member of the Executive Committee and 
Personnel Committee.  She directs a 5 octave choir at Powell Memorial UM Church in Findlay and also has formed a community choir which is known as the "Old Millstream Ringers" from Findlay, OH. 

Avila, Carlos - 386 Acosta st. San Juan, PR 00918, cab75@hotmail.com - Director of Coro Polifonico Juvenil de Campanas -  An excellent group from Puerto Rico 

Azusa Pacific University --  Azusa, CA --  http://www.apu.edu/

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