Handbell Clinicians
The following AGEHR members have indicated that they are available to serve as clinicians at handbell or handchime events. The information below was submitted by the handbell clinicians themselves and is listed in alphabetical order by the clinician's last name.
Please note that AGEHR does not endorse or recommend any specific handbell clinicians, and this list is provided only for your reference in contacting potential clinicians for your event.
If you would like to add your information to the above list, please see the requirements below.
Christine Allison |
330-499-8972 ext. 14 |
Directed bell choirs for 20+ years and works with beginning adult bell choirs in Northeast Ohio area churches (to help them improve their skills) as well as being a clinician for FUMMWA local and juridictional events and has directed mass rings. Staff member at Mount Union College for handbells. |
Christine D. Anderson |
661-245-1899 |
Qualified to conduct workshops for just about any handbell subject, including handbell maintenance, solo, ensemble, treble/multiple bell techniques. Christine has been conducting massed ring festivals and conferences for over 27 years. |
Mark Andersen |
425-485-6743 |
Mark Andersen began playing handbells in 1956 in North Carolina and has been associated with the art of English handbell ringing continually since that time. He has started over 12 church and community handbell choirs including “Scintillation” recording choir in New York City. Scintillation recorded several times for television commercials over NBC in New York. Mark has served as a clinician for Schulmerich in upstate New York and New York City and is an avid composer and arranger for solo handbells. Mark currently serves as the handbell instructor for several handbell soloists as well as the trainer for Emerald City Ringers, a 25 member double community handbell choir located in Seattle, WA. |
Greig Ashurst |
337-504-4079 |
M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU. Instrumental Music Educator for more than 12 years. Church musician and handbell conductor for over 15 years. Greig Ashurst is a dynamic, vibrant conductor, clinician, and percussionist. Conducted, taught, and performed at innumerable music festivals and events. |
Bill Alexander |
218-729-8434 |
Bill Alexander has served as director of handbells at First United Methodist Church in Duluth for 29 years, directing five choirs, including the touring ensemble Strikepoint. Bill is also a former officer of AGEHR and an internationally known handbell clinician and conductor with a reputation for musicality and fun. |
John Behnke |
262-285-7678 |
John Behnke is the director of the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Area Handbell Ensemble. He has also directed area festivals and bell clinics throughout the USA and is very involved in composition as Music Editor for AGEHR and as a composer of handbell, organ, and choral music. |
Wishart Bell |
574-229-2247 |
Active as a clinician and adjudicator, conducting festivals and workshops in the U.S. and Canada; Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church and conducts the Laudate Ringers; Master of Music in piano, Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting, with emphasis in both choral and orchestral conducting. |
Ron Bellamy |
717-615-0944 |
Specializing in solo/ensemble ringing, Ron has also taught classes in many full-choir topics. He rings in the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble, and has been a clinician for AGEHR, Solo/Ensemble Extravaganza, and Handbell Exploration. He presently directs 4 handbell choirs, and has been a massed ring conductor for the Ephrata Area and Somerset Handbell Festivals. |
Douglas J. Benton |
480-288-9722 |
Doug Benton has achieved a national reputation for excellence as Clinician and Massed Conductor. He began working with handbells in 1973 and brings great energy and a wealth of experience in all facets of music to the podium and classroom. His primary stated goal is to "have fun--creating music!" |
Susan Berry |
(office) 313-278-8387 |
Author and arranger Susan Berry is an authority on proper ringing - credits include Healthy Ringing®, the Learning to Ring curriculum (coauthor), and Bell Basics. She is an internationally-known clinician who teaches and motivates from the podium. She owns Handbell Services, Inc. and is director of the Detroit Handbell Ensemble. |
Nancy Cappel |
703-978-3500 x32 |
Nancy has a BS/MA in Music, taught elem./middle school music/handbells 20 years. Director of Music at St. Matthew's for 36 years/9 bell choirs. Yearly tours (27) with youth choirs. Teaches workshops & directs festivals locally and nationally for AGEHR & denominational music conferences. Writes handbell curriculum/beginning children. |
Brian Childers |
704-827-0796 |
Extensive experience conducting handbell and handchime choirs from children to senior adults. Currently conducts ten handbell, choral, and instrumental ensembles. Mr. Childers is an accomplished conductor, pianist, and composer. He has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance and church music from Appalachian State University and Gardner Webb University. |
Anne Cotter |
(928) 282-4103 |
Anne has been ringing bells for over 15 years. She is part of a professional handbell duet, "Go Bellistic!", which represents the excitement and fun that the duet brings to ringing. Ensemble, Beginning Ringing and Stage Presence are our expertise in teaching. We also perform as part of our contract. |
Daniel F. Francabandiero |
904-389-0641 |
|
Roxanne B. Golden |
home 706-268-3912 |
see website www.goldenbells.com for bio, photos and more info |
Donna M. Hanna |
704-366-1595 |
Currently the Associate Minister of Music at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC, I am also the coordinator of the Midwinter Handbell Retreats at Lutheridge in Arden, NC. I have published several arrangements for bells as well as original pieces, and I am a frequent clinician at area workshops. |
Michael Helman |
239-738-6072 (cell) michael@faithcapecoral.org Personal website: michaelhelman.net |
Michael Helman is nationally known as a composer of handbell, organ, and choral music and is in demand as a handbell festival conductor/clinician. For a listing of his accomplishments, compositions, and a short biography, please check out his website, michaelhelman.net. Michael is currently Director of Music/Organist at Faith Presbyterian in Cape Coral, Florida where he directs a graded handbell program, a 60 voice choir and a concert series |
Dr. John Hooper |
780.993.9543 |
Professor of Music at Concordia University College of Alberta in Edmonton, Dr. Hooper founded the handbell program there, where he currently conducts Jubiloso!, an auditioned community handbell ensemble. Jubiloso! has emerged as one of the finest in Canada and is developing an international reputation in performance and teaching. A conducting and directing pedagogue, he has served as a massed ringing conductor and led workshops on conducting and handbell music for national and international events in Canada, Australia and the USA. He was the first conductor of Classic Bronze, an intense weekend session for advanced ringers. With a strong passion for theory and analysis, he enjoys the process of score study, sharing that passion and knowledge through rehearsal, workshops, and teaching. He is also an active arranger and composer of music for handbells. |
Nancy Jessup |
714-545-3213 |
Nancy has completed Advanced Conducting classes with William Payn through Handbell Exploration School of Music and AGEHR Master Class. She teaches handbells at Concordia University, Irvine and has taught at numerous events throughout the country. Recent 2004 conducting of mass events include Winnipeg, Canada (April) and Vista, California (June). |
Michael Joy |
Home: 215 508-0742 |
Mike has been conducting handbell choirs for the last 28 years. A published composer, he has taught at area festivals, PMEA conferences and the AGEHR National Seminar. Mike is currently the middle school music teacher at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA where he has 15 different handbell groups. |
Michael Kastner |
303-404-3035 |
Michael has directed many church choirs and has been Artistic Director for three auditioned community handbell ensembles in the Denver, Colorado area. He has directed handbells for more than 30 years and leads festivals and workshops nation-wide and internationally. Michael is also a creative solo ringer and co-founder of STEP. |
Heather Keith |
905-686-5676 |
A ringer since 1992, heather's specialty is Solo & Ensemble Ringing. She has performed and served as a clinician at local, provincial, and Canadian national events, as well as at the International Handbell Symposium in 2004. heather has one Bell Tree solo arrangement in line to be published in 2007. |
Donna L. Kinsey |
304-296-9710 |
Donna has been instrumental in developing handbell ringing in both school and church settings for over 30 years. She has a national reputation as a clinician/director for young ringers as well as massed ringing events. She is past member of the AreaV Board. |
Eileen Laurence |
845-528-3490 |
B.S. and M.S. degrees from Juilliard School of Music with a double major of voice/opera theatre and organ/church music. Handbell studies at Westminster College with Robert Ivey and guild events. AGEHR accredited massed conductor. Published composer. Composition contest winner. AGEHR clinician experience. Katonah Celebration Ringers' director. |
Blanche Marie Lewis |
407-435-1490 |
Blanche Marie Lewis is a Certified Handbell Director; has worked with various church choirs (all ages); is director of Magic of Bronze, an auditioned community handbell ensemble serving Central Florida; and has served as a handbell clinician/workshop leader in area events. Blanche Marie also directs the handbell choirs at Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry. |
Damien Lim |
+65-94503105 / +65-6433550 |
An accomplished musical theatre percussionist. Directs 11 handbells teams from Singapore schools & serves as consultant to 2 school teams. Founded & funded the Ministry of Bellz (2007), a community-professional group. Fuses the multi-racial / multi-cultural elements of rhythms & music from Southeast Asia into his handbells curriculum. Forte in Asian & Latin. Participants 7 - 70 years old. Fluent in English. Experienced events producer. |
Venita MacGorman |
405-321-6483 (home) |
Venita has taught at every Area IX Festival/Conference from 1988-2002 and directed several young Ringers Festivals. Her areas of expertise are teaching music literacy, teaching the beginning handbell choir, bells/handchimes and other instruments. She is the author of AGEHR's publication "The Director as Teacher: Working With the Beginning Handbell Choir". |
| Monica S. McGowan (100159) Lakeville, MN |
952-461-7261 |
Monica S. McGowan brings her background of education (BSME, Chadron State College, NE), and extensive training in handbells and handchimes to the conducting podium or workshop setting. As Artistic Director of Twin Cities Bronze, Ms. McGowan provides the vision and direction for the premiere handbell ensemble of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. |
Paul A. McKlveen |
920-339-8994 |
Please check the biography section of Paul's web site for more information about him, and feel free to call (or write) for more details. |
Anne Miller |
970-302-1903 |
1998 graduate AGEHR Master class in "Score Study-Preparation and Conducting," 27-year ringer, 17 yr. church director, 10 yr. community ensemble ringer, adjudicator, clinician, soloist, mentor, and accompanist. |
Joyce Miller |
402-333-0715 |
Joyce is currently directing nine handbell choirs in Omaha and Fremont, NE. She is the past Area VIII Chair. She was the Chair of the Hartford, Conn. Director's Seminar. At past conferences, she has done several reading sessions covering different levels of music. |
Daniel K. Moore |
401-438-3299 |
For nearly 30 years Dan has taught and encouraged young ringers through a comprehensive handbell curriculum. His auditioned high school ensembles tour annually and performs at regional and national handbell events. Dan is an AGEHR Accredited Massed Conductor, author of Ringing RIGHT! From the Beginning, and AGEHR Certification Committee chair. |
Carol Roman |
845-294-9465 |
A ringer since 1967; director of 3 groups in Warwick, NY since 1985. Taught classes at local, Area II and national events. Directed local festival on Long Island and TINS division at Hudson Valley Handbell Festival Conference. Available as director for festivals (and helping organize them), clinician for techniques/ringing workshops, or mentor for individual choirs. Enthusiastic about sharing knowledge of handbells; a clear communicator and experienced teacher. |
Dr. Paul E. Rosene |
407-803-7861 |
Dr. Rosene is Professor Emeritus (Illinois State University), where he founded and Directed the Handbell/Choirchime Ensembles. He is very active as a clinician and Handbell Festival Guest Conductor (presentations in more than 35 States). His Choirchime research has been nationally recognized at AGEHR, Inc., State MEA's and MENC Conventions. |
Tom Secor |
678-423-9494/ |
Tom is an active church musician/clinician with 22 years experience teaching and conducting bell choirs and ensembles. He is an inspiring and motivating clinician/teacher and has a 30+ year background as an educator and church music director, with a BME and MME from East Carolina University School of Music. |
Ann Y. Schmidt |
301-587-6417 |
Ann Y. Schmidt has been conducting and leading workshops at the local and national levels since 1973. She is available for conducting festivals, teaching techniques/conducting, or as a mentor to a single choir. Ann is the founder/director of Capital Carillon and Director of Music at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church. |
Michèle Sharik |
650-504-0519 |
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michèle is an experienced director, clinician and solo artist, and is a member of the professional handbell ensemble Sonos. She is available to conduct Massed Ringing as well as to teach workshops on a variety of topics. |
F. Thomas Simpson |
202 957 8466 |
Thomas currently directs 5 Handbell choirs in the NY/NJ area including Choirs at Princeton University. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, he is an accomplished composer and conductor of Children, Youth and Adults. He has appeared twice on the TODAY show, the TONIGHT Show with Jay Leno, and most recently on the Martha Stewart show where he taught her how to play Handbells. |
Valerie W. Stephenson |
904-880-1806 |
Ms. Stephenson is an active handbell composer, arranger, author, conductor and clinician with extensive conducting experience at any ability level. She currently directs the Southside Handbell Ensemble. Valerie resides in Jacksonville, FL and holds a BME from Florida State University and a Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin. |
Susan T. (Nelson) Sylvester |
609-588-5124 |
Published composer since 1991 of over 100 works; Director of Music at churches since 1974; handbell director since 1989. An experienced clinician, Susan has taught classes ranging from basic technique to composition at festival conferences. Available for large or small events. Can design/teach classes to fit your needs. |
Maryann Tatum |
305-975-0240 |
|
Sondra K. Tucker |
(h) 281-531-4245 |
Experienced conductor/clinician for festivals and small events. Recent and upcoming: Shreveport area festival, Feb. 2006, West TN State Baptist Festival, Feb 2006. |
Susan Ullom-Hungerford |
949-470-0420 |
Susan Ullom Hungerford: Director/Founder The South Coast Handbell Ensemble; former Director/Founder The Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble; former Handbell Music Editor Lorenz Publishing; former Director of Handbells The University of Indianapolis; demo recordings for several publishers; published composer/arranger; director/clinician for events throughout US; External Affairs Associate Opera Pacific. |
Tammy Waldrop |
281-689-1630 |
As a clinician, I meet interesting people and enjoy sharing the ringing insights that I've gleaned in my 27-year experience with bells. I have a BM and a MM in music theory/composition from Baylor University and have over 400 pieces in print. Presently, I am handbell editor for Alfred Publishing. |
Timothy Waugh |
304-320-2715 |
Known nationally and internationally as a performance arts educator Timothy Waugh brings to the manuscript, podium, stage and classroom an energy and vitality that ensures the success of performers of every age and ability. He is in strong demand as a clinician, conductor and composer at many handbell events. |
Kipp Willnauer |
913-884-6935 |
A music educator and church musician for 30+ yrs. Since 1987 have been teaching handbells/chimes daily in public education. Have participated and/or directed community choirs and summer handbell camps for 15 years. Also involved in Area VIII teaching classes, workshops and filling nominated positions for 10+ years. |
Kath Wissinger |
540-289-6973 |
Kath is known widely as a direct and encouraging clinician, inspiring ringers of all ages at all level events - local, Area and National - across the country. She has studied composition with John Behnke and Arnold Sherman and conducting with David Davidson and William Payn. Often commissioned to write for special occasions, Kath also has about 50 pieces in print. She teaches handbells and general music at Redeemer Classical School as well as piano in her home studio. |
Requirements to Add Your Clinician Listing
You must be a current AGEHR member to be added to this list. If you would like to add your information to the above list, please email us at webmaster@agehr.org with the information below:
1. Name
2. Member ID number
3. City & State of residence
4. Telephone number where you wish to be contacted
5. Email address
6. Website, if applicable
7. Add'l Notes (limit to 50 words or less)
If you are already listed and would like to make changes to your listing,
please email us at webmaster@agehr.org.