The expansion of the art of english handbell ringing is extremely important to me. I believe this skill to be one of the most important skills I have learned as a musicians and reinforces the skills I use to teach on a consistent basis.
background
I started ringing handbells during my freshman year at Westminster. I had no formal training prior to this moment, and I had never seen a handbell in my life…But I had heard Concert Bell Choir 1 play during the Family Weekend Concerts in the fall of 2000, and I was hooked. I joined as a mid-semester transfer from another class and that was it.
In 2002, I crossed over from Training Choir to Concert Choir and had the amazing opportunity to be in the ensemble that played the, A Royal Christmas tour with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and Charlotte Church. We felt like rockstars.
After graduating Westminster, I rang in a community choir for a while and eventually reinstituted the Handbell Choir Program at Ewing High School. The program is still alive and well today.
It is thanks to handbells that I began working as a sacred musician. Through my time at Covenant Presbyterian Church as well as Elkton United Methodist Church, I learned so much about the Christian faith, seasons, matching the word with music. An Education which has grounded me always. Having the opportunity to work with volunteer musicians and people who would rather be called a non-musician, has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
Appointments of Note
2005-2008: Reinstitution of the Handbell Program at Ewing High School; Ewing, NJ
2006-2008: Handbell Choir Director, Covenant Presbyterian Church; Trenton, NJ
2008-2013: Director of Music, Elkton United Methodist Church; Elkton, VA
2016-2019: Artistic Director, James River Ringers; Richmond, VA
2021-2022: Artistic Director, Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble, Philadelphia, PA
2022-Current: L. A. Bronze, Los Angeles, CA
CLINICIAN SESSION NOTES
HMA Area 12 “Go Nuts” Directors Seminar: June 20, 2024
L. A. Bronze “Back to Basics” Directors Seminar Notes: August 24, 2024