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.
East Texas Baptist University -- TX -- http://www.etbu.edu/
EAST TEXAS HANDBELL ENSEMBLE -- Tyler, Texas -- Director, Arnold Sherman -- easttexashandbellensemble.com -- ETHandbells@aol.com
Ebling-Thorne, Kathy -- malmarkbel@voicenet.com -- Malmark Bells, Director Westminster Concert Bell Choir, from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. The choir plays on 7 1/2 octaves of Malmark bells and 6 octaves of Malmark Choirchimes. .
Eckerd College -- St. Petersburg, FL --
http://www.eckerd.edu/
ECUMENICAL BELLS - Austin, MN - Director, Ann Flisrand - annflis@charter.net
EKCO Ringers - Middleburg Heights, Ohio. -- Edward Krzes, edkrzes@roadrunner.com and Cheryl Onesky -- cheryl.onesky@att.net -- http://www.ekcoringers.com/ -- Handbell duet. Formed in 2003.
EMBELLISH - Grand Rapids, MI - Director, Stephanie
Wiltse - wiltse@iserv.net
-
http://www.embellish.ws
EMERALD CITY RINGERS -- Seattle, WA -- Director, Brian Tervo -- www.emeraldcityringers.org
ENGLISH HANDBELL ENSEMBLES - LaMesa, CA - Director,
Marcia Weiland -
*Erb, Bessie Honorary Life 1965, In her book, "The First
Quarter Century: 54-79," Elizabeth Bradford writes the following:
"Bessie (Mrs. Norman) Erb used her inexhaustible energy and organizing
ability to spread the gospel of bellringing. Together with Mrs. Shurcliff,
Bessie Erb gathered the bands in the Boston region into an organized unit
- the New England Guild of English Handbell Ringers - which met annually
for exchanging ideas and ringing their best, but also for sociability's
sake. When it became evident that many people outside New England
were interested in learning to ring and to start bands in their hometowns,
Mrs. Shurcliff and Mrs. Erb conceived of a nation-wide organization.
Together they stirred up interest and ideas until the American Guild came
into being. Bessie Erb took over the editorship of OVERTONES, then
the Presidency of the Guild, succeeding Mrs. Shurcliff in 1957. In
1960, Mrs. Erb expressed her feelings about what the Guild could do for
its members. 'Have you ever considered what it means to belong to
a unique organization that in less than six years had grown into full bloom?
Springing from an old English custom, it has become a modern organization
filled with the spirit of research, experimentation and service characteristic
of the scientific age in which we live ... since the handbell is comparatively
new in America, it presents an opportunity to grow in a new area.
Members of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers are challenged
to experiment in making satisfactory handbells; to discover new uses for
the handbell as a musical instrument; to learn to play a new instrument;
and to create music for handbells. We are given innumerable
opportunities to serve; as directors of young people and adults; as contributors
to the service of worship .. and as bringers of joy to thousands of people
for whom we ring.' (OVERTONES, Vol. 6, #2. Ever filled with ideas,
love of people, and the ability to get things moving, Bessie Erb started
with a group of ringers at her retirement home, knitting the ringers together
with the magical bonds created by bellringing as a team. Never did
she herself lose interest in bells, ringing, bellringers, or the American
Guild of English Handbell Ringers." Elizabeth Bradford.
