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 peson 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.




Jackson, Robert  (B.J.)  --  1320 W. University Ave., Gainesville, FL  32603,  (352) 376-6685.  bjuumc@aol.com  --  B.J.  received a BMEd from the University of Florida ('78).  Director of Music at University United Methodist Church & Student Center, Gainesville, Florida, where for 20 years he has overseen a program of three vocal choirs, two handbell choirs, an orchestra, and a children's musical program.  Member and Past Chairman of Area IV of AGEHR and currently serving as the National Chairman of the Ringer Education Department for AGEHR.  He is a member of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts where he has sevred as President of the Florida Chapter, workshop dean, registrar and clinician. 

Jackson, Derek -- Chester, UK -- dnjackson@tiscali.co.uk -- Formerly Director of the Blacon Handbell Ringers, which was founded back in the early eighties. The Blacon Handbell Ringers made their first visit to the United States in 1984, as guests of Dan Hermany of the Ringers and Singers of the FUMC Lakeland, Florida and demonstrated ‘Off-table’ ringing (ringing backwards) at an Eastern States Convention at the Sheraton, Orlando. The Blacon group toured the US every three years  - always visiting with the Lakeland group and always staying for some time at the UPC of Matawan in New Jersey. On their early visits to Washington DC we were hosted by the Potomac Ringers directed  by Nancy Poor Tufts, whom they had hosted a few years earlier in Chester. In 1999, the Blacon group was disbanded and Derek founded a new High School group – the Bishops’ Handbell Ringers, also based in Chester. With this group they toured the US summer 2006 ringing in the venues they had visited in the past with the Blacon group – St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the United Nations HQ in New York, The National RC Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington DC and, in Florida, they rang at the American Pavilion in EPCOT Center (Walt Disney World). On two of the earlier visits they had traveled to the west coast and rang in Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and at the Crystal Cathedral in Golden Grove (both in the state of California). Member of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain and take part in all of the events in the North West Region. Bishops' Handbell Ringers website: www.bishopsbells.com

THE JAMES RINGER RINGERS  --  Richmond VA  -  Director - Dottie Tweedie  -  (804) 932-4448  -
jamesrringers@juno.com  -   www.jamesriverringers.com

James, Karen  --    Kjamesbell@aol.com    --  Karen began ringing bells when her church acquired a three octave set in 1983 and she became the director a year later.  Under her direction, the Bells of Joy, now ringing five octaves, have performed locally, at Area and National Festivals, and toured the Atlantic and New England States.  Since 1986, Karen has helped organize and direct the annual Vermont Spring Rings and the Vermont Youth Rings.  She has taught numerous workshops, conducted State Spring Rings, and directed the "Tins" Division at the 1993 Area I  Festival/Conference in Burlington, VT.
Karen holds a BM in Music Education from the University of Lowell, MA, with further studies from Hartt School of Music, the University of Vermont and Orff-Schulwerk in England.  Karen is Music Specialist at Proctor Elementary School, teaches piano at her home studio, is immediate past-Chair of the AGEHR Area I Board, and serves on the AGEHR Board of Directors as Area I & II Representative.

JAMES RINGER RINGERS, THE  --  Richmond VA  -  Director - Dottie Tweedie  -  (804) 932-4448  -
jamesrringers@juno.com  -   www.jamesriverringers.com

Jeffers, Connie  --  P.O. Box 1728, Irmo, SC  29063-1728, 803-781-0555, 800-547-2355  jhsbell@aol.com  --   www.handbellworld.com   Retailer, Jeffers Handbell Supply started in 1975 as a response to the question, "Now that we have these bells, what equipment do we need and where do we find it?"  Over the years (25 now) Jeffers has searched, researched, found, designed, invented and published supplies, equipment and music which have helped answer the original questions.      Connie, working closely with Jim, took over the management of the business and the children continue to play important rolls in the company.  Philip heads up Publishing.  Upon Jim's retirement, Thomas has taken on Sales and Marketing, and Pamela handles Personnel and Benefits.  Jill, Thomas' wife, is in Purchasing. 

Jeffers, James (Jim) -- P.O. Box 1728, Irmo, SC  29063-1728, --  803-781-0555,  800-547-2355,  jhsbell@aol.com  -- www.handbellworld.com  --   Retailer, Jeffers Handbell Supply  --  Jim Jeffers saw the possibilities of a company to supply the music and other needs of the Handbell Director.  As handbell ringing has grown, so has the needs and so has Jeffers Handbell Supply.  Jeffers continues to be a family run business, with another generation coming along.

Jensen, Byron W. -- Hastings College Department of Music, 800 Turner Ave., Hastings, NE 68901. Phone (402) 461-7361. email: bjensen@hastings.edu --    Byron Jensen is an associate professor of music at Hastings College where he teaches music theory, and maintains studios for strings and percussion. He has initiated a bell program at Hastings College as part of that school's endeavors to provide churches and schools with qualified ringers and directors in the Midwest region. Formerly of Ottawa University where his handbell choirs traveled throughout the United States, Dr. Jensen expects greater quality and opportunities to develop in the years to come at Hastings College. Dr. Jensen was also recently appointed the permanent conductor of the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, and conducts the handbell choir at the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, NE.

Jergensen, Dale  15035 Wyandotte St VanNuys CA 91405 , 818-994-6920, Fax: 818.994.6958, dale@laurendale.com  --  web-site: www.laurendale.com  --  Dale Jergenson (b. 1935) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and after service in the U.S. Navy, attended San Diego State College, where he received both 
the B.A. and M.A. in music.  He holds a California Community College Instructor Credential, has 5 years post-graduate study in composition at UCLA, has won many awards for both music composition and film production, including the National AGEHR composition contest winner "A Flight of Angels" in 1990.  Received a NEA grant for "Walking Slow", a work for chorus and orchestra.  He currently serves as composer-in-residence for Cantori Domino and at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church in Encino, California, and is active in writing scores for television, commericials, documentaries and feature films.  His publishing company, Laurendale Associates, publishes a wide range of music including Handbells, Chorus, Keyboard and Orchestra.  His performance activities include singing and conducting for major choral and orchestral ensembles in live performance and recording.

Jessup, Nancy,    3235 Nebraska Place, Costa Mesa CA 92626-     (714) 545-3213  -  nanjessup@aol.com -  Nancy  has been ringing since 1977.  She has taught at Area, National and International events since 1982, both with the AGEHR and Handbell Exploration.  She is perhaps best known for her work with solo ringing, developing the technique known as the Three Bell Drills.  Nancy teaches at Concordia University in Irvine, CA. --  1994-96 Membership Chairman, Solo/Ensemble Ringer and Clinician, Conductor

Johnson, Malia Anderson  --  Kent WA 98032  AGEHR Composer  .. 

Johnson, Norman G. - 3310 Altaloma Drive,  Birmingham, AL 35216-     (205) 979-8378  1991-95 -- DRNGJ@aol.com - AGEHR and Handbell involvement includes First State Chairman for Kentucky, Bell choirs have toured in 46 states, Canada (9 tours), Mexico (2 tours) and the Bahama Islands (3 tours).  Wrote some of the first articles relating to Young Ringer Handbell Choirs and was the first person to print a grading method for handbell music in OVERTONES.  Organized the first Alabama Young Ringer Festival, the first National Young Ringer Festivals, and the first Area VI Young Ringer Festivals. Organized the "first Theme Festival" - the New Orleans Mardi Gras Festival.  Served as an officer in Area V, Area VI, and two terms as National  Treasurer.  In 1995 was honored with a MASTER TEACHER CERTIFICATION by the National Board of AGEHR.Past Chairman (Area VI),  Arranger, Conductor, Clinician, Author, Educator

Joy, Michael -- Philadelphia, PA -- michaeljoy@comcast.net -- Michael Joy has been directing handbell choirs in churches since 1978 and in schools since 1983. He studied handbells with Donald Allured and handbell composition with Arnold Sherman. Michael is currently the middle school music teacher at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA where he conducts 14 different handbell groups. For the last 32 years he has also been the Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Ambler, PA. Michael is a published composer and has taught at Area festivals, PMEA district and state conferences, Handbell Exploration and the AGEHR National Seminars. He was named Composer of the Year for 2004 by Jeffers Publishing Company for his composition Dorian Dance. From 2003-2007 Michael was a ringer and Composer-In-Residence for the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble. Michael also served two terms as the Secretary for AGEHR Area II.

JOYFUL SOUND  -  Greenwood, IN  -  Director, June Hannah   -  http://joyfulsound.info .--   jhannah@joyfulsound.info.

JUBELLEE HANDBELLS (nominally capitalized as JuBELLee) -- Tuscon, AZ -- Director, Anita Hosterman -- director@jubellee.com -- 520-790-9718 -- A Volunteer Community Choir since 2002. Bringing music to the care centers of Tucson, Arizona.

JUBILEE RINGERS, THE -- Williamsville, NY -- Director, Mildred J. Fischle -- mjfsparrow@aol.com

JUBILOSO! BELLS OF CONCORDIA -- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada -- Director, Dr. John Hooper -- http://music.concordia.ab.ca/ensembles/jubiloso.php -- 780.479.9301

Judson College   --   Marion, AL   --  http://home.judson.edu/

JULILEE RINGERS  -  Elkhart, IN  -  Director, Stan Skinner  - 

Juniata College  --  (PA) --  www.brethren.org

Junkert, Kermit  --Cottage Grove, MN 55016, -- 1-800-331-5719 belltech@mediaone.net --  Kermit is the National Handbell Director of Schulmerich Bells Inc., of Sellersville, PA. and is a Master Handbell Technician.  He serves as a consultant to the factory in areas of product development, innovation and refurbishment.  As a local, national and internationally known handbell clinician, he has taught at the past eight consecutive AGEHR National Director's Seminars and has taught classes at the past three International Handbell Symposiums .   He is the executive producer of "Handbells In The Liturgy", a handbell resource  book and two handbell videos, "Successful Ringing: Step by Step" with Dr. John Behnke and  "The Handbell Workshop" on the care and maintenance of Schulmerich Bells.  Kermit is a festival conductor and is the director of The Salem Handbell Ensemble, of Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN.

Justice, David  --  Lakewood,  CA 90713  AGEHR Composer

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