Who's Who in Handbells
An informational list

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

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

"*" indicates peson is deceased.

Community Groups are listed in ALL CAPS.

Colleges and Universities are listed in bold face type.

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RALEIGH RINGERS  -  Raleigh, NC  -  Director, David M. Harris  -  rringer@rr.org    -

Ralston, Alice  -- 2000 Burlington Drive, Midland, MI, 49642-3893 -- 989-631-9662 -- aralst@charter.net -- Alice is founding director of the Carillon Choir, First United Methodist Church, Midland, MI.  She is a past Chairman of Area V, AGEHR, and also served Area V as Secretary, currently serving as Area V Historian.  Alice has conducted several handbell festivals in Michigan and Indiana on the district level, and has served at Area V and National Festival/Conferences and at National Directors' Seminar as clinician.  Frequent contributor to Handbell-L.

Ramsdale,  Joann  -  16118 Elza Drive, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745  -  (626)330-2534 -   ramsdale@adelphia.net. Joann directs the Carillon Ringers at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745.  She has been directing bells for twenty-seven years.  She is the arranger of the very popular "Rock-A My Soul" published by National Music, also has an original composition titled "Celebration of Love" published by National Music (an all-occasion celebration piece), and is co-arranger of the solo version of  "Rock-A My Soul" just now being published by National Music -- the other co-arranger is Connie Nicholson of Midland, MI, who is an accomplished solo ringer and plays in the Carillon Choir directed by Alice Ralston in Midland.

RANDOM RINGERS  -  Palatine, IL  -  Director, Beth McFarland -- bmcfarland6107@yahoo.com

Rauschnabel June,   -   614 5th Street South, Moorhead MN  56560,   218-233-6967,   rauschna@cord.edu --  June has been on the music faculty of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, teaching voice since 1974, and handbells since 1995;  involved with handbells since 1981, mostly at churches in the Fargo-Moorhead area; currently serves as Chair of Area VII, AGEHR.

Rawls, Arnold, Chicago Illinois. --arnold.rawls@moody.edu-- Professor of Music and Handbell Director Moody Bible Institute, Chicago.  Specializes in the refurbishment of Schulmerich and Malmark handbells.  BM/BME - Oklahoma Baptist University, MA - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, DMA - University of Oklahoma.

* Reecher, Marvin E.  (TS)  Honorary Life  1967.   5848 S. Lakewood Tulsa OK 74135-     (918) 494-7036    Marvin E. Reecher served four years as the AGEHR Vice President, then succeeded Robert Hieber to become the AGEHR's  third President, serving from 1963-67.  Marvin served as the Minister of Music at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa, OK, for 32 years.  His graded choir program, including multiple handbell choirs, numbered more than most church memberships in the country.   My first knowledge of Marvin was a picture of more than 500 choir members, including handbells, on the front cover of The Church Musician magazine (BSSB).  It presented a challenge! He set an all time festival attendance record in 1971 by taking 110 ringers from Boston Avenue to the National Festival in Morehead, KY.   Marvin lists as one of his special memories the honor and pleasure he received conducting 1500 ringers at a National Festival in Orlando, Florida., President 1963-67, Conductor

RENAISSANCE RINGERS  -  Northeast OH  -  Director, Dean Wagner  -   dwagner@firstchurchcf.com  -

RESONANCE! -- Pensacola, Florida -- Directors, Bobby Griffin and Monika Durbin -- www.mobobells.com/resonance/ -- resonance.bellchoir@gmail.com

REZOUND!  -  Kansas City, MO  -  Director, Amy Pierce  - www.rezound.org  -  contact@rezound.org

Rice, Deborah  --  432 Wind Haven Lane, Winston-Salem, NC  27104, 919-765-3535, DRiceNC@compuserve.com  --  Debbie has served as clincian for AGEHR Area, National Seminars, Festival Conferences and  many denominational music conferences. She has conducted massed choirs and contributed articles to OVERTONES.  Currently Debbie is a member of the AGEHR Distinctly Bronze Committee, AGEHR Donald E Allured Composition Award Committee, Chairperson of the AGEHR Honorary Life Award Committee and holds the offices of AGEHR Area III Past Chair and National Secretary.

RING OUT ENSEMBLE  -  San Diego, CA  -  Ensemble  -  Contact, Leslie McEuen  -  stiletto@tlcnet.com

RING-A-LIERS  -  Director, Dorothy Brower  -  f5g5@bbs.bfunhouse.com  -

RING MASTERS OF WESTERN NEW YORK, THE - Williamsville, NY - Director, Gloria R. Werblow - Carillon1@aol.com

RING OF FIRE  -  Hillsboro, OR  -  Director, - www.rof.org  - 

RINGERS OF BRYN MAWR  -  Bryn Mawr, PA  -  Director, Paul Kingsbury  -  kingsbur@unagi.cis.upenn.edu  -

Rivard, Andrea Gilbert  --  GreenRose2@aol.com --  www.greenrosepress.com  --   A professional saxophonist (B.A. Music & Anthropology, University of California, Irvine 1986; A.R.C.M., 1988; Master of Music, University of Texas, 1992), Andrea Rivard began ringing handbells in 1975 with The Ringers of Joy from the Hemet Presbyterian Church, under the direction of John Ulrich, and began arranging for handbells in 1991.  In 1993 she founded Green Rose Press, Inc., a publishing company primarily devoted to handbell music, with a particular emphasis on internet marketing.  In addition to running Green Rose Press, I nc. and maintaining Andrea’s Handbell Directory, she teaches classes of Music Appreciation at Broward Community College in
Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA, and currently rings as a substitute (and saxophone soloist) with The Gold Coast Ringers.  She has served as Newsletter Editor and Secretary for Area IV of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and is currently Secretary/Treasurer of the Handbell Industry Council.
Andrea’s Handbell Directory - http://www.greenrosepress.com/directory/directory.html
The Gold Coast Ringers - http://solutions-net.com/gcr/
Handbell Industry Council - http://users.aol.com/HICWeb/index.html

RIVERBELLS -- Sacramento, CA.  -  Paul W. Allen, Director - musicallen@sbcglobal.net  --  www.riverbells.org

RIVER BEND BELLS -- Mankato, MN -- Wendy Greiner, Artistic Director -- www.riverbendbells.org

RIVER CITY RINGERS  -  Fremont, NE  -  Director, Joyce Miller   - jmiller@tconl.com

Rivera Carlos  -- Albonito, Puerto Rico   - Director, Arranger

Rivera, Felix --  Albonito, Puerto Rico  --National Treasurer 1997-99

Roberts, Philip L. — Handbell Editor, GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave. Chicago, IL 60638 (708) 496-3800 -- philr@giamusic.com — Phil has directed handbell choirs since 1981. In 1995 he led his handbell choirs in Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations in Tiberias and Jerusalem and in Bethlehem Square on Christmas Eve at the invitation of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Phil is a published composer with National Music Publishers, Laurendale Associates, Southern Baptist Convention, Sassafras Publishing, Jeffers Handbell Supply, SoundForth, and with GIA. He is the Director of Choirs at the Community Presbyterian Church, Lombard Illinois where he leads a thriving music ministry which incorporates both traditional and contemporary worship and includes all ages — www.cpclombard.org. He is also the music director for Chicago Bronze, an auditioned community handbell choir in the Chicago metropolitan area — www.chicagobronze.com.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RINGERS  -  Longmont, CO  -  Director, Tom Lance  -  jcjc18a@prodigy.com

Rodriquez, Rudy  -- 14172 Bowen St., Garden Grove, CA  92843,  Voice Mail: 714-636-7705, RRodriquez@aol.com --  Mr. Rodriquez has held the post as director of the  graded handbell program at Mid-Cities Baptist Church in Westminster, California for sixteen years, including the five octave Master’s Hands’
choir which rings every month year-round.  Rudy has been very active in the AGEHR, serving on the Area
XII Board for the six year term of the Chairman cycle, and the National AGEHR. Board for six years and on several national committees. Clinician at many national and regional handbell festivals and directors seminars.  Guest conductor at numerous handbell festivals.  Published composer of handbell music.  On the Internet, Mr. Rodriquez’s claim to infamy is that he is the “inventor” of  “The Rudy.”

Rogers, Sharon Elery --1255 Paradise Way, Venice, FL  34285 wsroger2@comcast.net -- www.venice-florida.com/artandculture/rogers.htm -- Sharon earned a B.A. and an Alumni Achievement Award from Hillsdale College in Michigan has 550+published choral anthems, masses, organ & vocal collections, brass, piano with 100+Handbell pieces and is the recipient of 39 annual ASCAP Awards and did Graduate Study at Wayne State University,  Honors include Detroit Honorary Life member of American Guild of Organists, National Federation of Music Clubs, featured annually in the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity magazine's Composers Bureau and was appointed Fl. State Chairman of ASCAP Awards for Young Composers for NFMC.   Sharon began writing Handbell music in 1993 when she won the AGEHR's Area IV composition contest with "RAZ-MA-TAZ"  (published by Jeffers Publishing Co.). Was named  omposer of the Year in 1999  for her "CAROLING MEDLEY". Her  latest series of easy classics  published by Alfred Publishers for early ringers are titled "A Bit of Bach", "A Bit of Handel",  "A Bit of Mozart", "A Bit of Beethoven", and "A Bit of Haydn" The composer is Director of Music and organist at the Auburn Rd. Presbyterian Church in Venice, FL.

Rosary HS Handbell Choir  -  1340 N. Acacia Avenue, Fullerton, CA -  (714)879-6302 --  kcurry@rosaryhs.org. Karen Curry,  Director - http://www.rc.net/orange/rosary/handbells --  http://www.rc.net/orange/rosary/handbell/handbell.htm.   We have been ringing for 15 years, perform widely in public, and go on a Goodwill tour every spring.

Rosene,  Dr. Paul E.  -- 822 Pinar Drive, Orlando, FL 32825-7822 -- rosenebell@aol.com -- 407/803-7861  --  formerly a member of the music faculty  at Illinois State University (Professor Emeritus),, founded and Directed the ISU andbell/Choirchime Ensembles for many years.  His interest and research in Handbell and Choirchime education is well-known throughout the Mid-West and now in Florida.  Now retired from ISU, he and his wife live permanently in Florida, where he continues his interest in Bells and Chimes education.  He is available as a consultant, guest conductor and clinician.  You may contact him directly:

Rosenquist, Joyce --  jrosy@aol.com --  Joyce had conducted childrens chancel choirs since 1958 and recognized that after 7th or 8th grade they lost the kids in church. When she was introduced to handbells in 1974, she went to the church board to get their blessings to start a handbell choir. She joined AGEHR, Inc. in 1975 and did fundraising for 4 octaves of bells, tables, music, etc.  In 1983 they had five active handbell choirs ranging from 1st grade to 70 year olds. Moving to  Marshall, Missouri, Joyce started a junior-high school bell-choir, was nominated for chairman for Area 8, and then was appointed Activities Chairman from 1991-1995 on the National Board of Directors. Upon resigning in Marshall, Joyce agreed to fill in until they found a "sensitive person who would work with non-musicians" to fill the position. " I think what is important is my passion for involving people in ringing bells. I have had the privilege of bringing people to church."  She considers her work in enlisting people as Home mission work! Her love for people shows.  Joyce purchased four octaves of chimes so she can start a young peoples choir when they move to Arizona.

ROYAL OAK COMMUNITY HANDBELLS - Royal Oak, MI. Sylvia Hartsoe, Director.

ROYAL OAK SENIOR COMMUNITY HANDBELLS - Royal Oak, MI, Director Sylvia Hartsoe. - 

Ruder, David --   daveruder@comcast.net   --  David Ruder has been a handbell director for 35 years and currently serves as the  director  of the Valley Ringers and Valley Vibrations at Valley Church in Cupertino. He is a past Chairman of the Area XII AGEHR Board.  He has conducted numerous bell workshops, served as a clinician at Area XII festivals, and directed the massed choirs in one of his compositions at the San Jose area festival.  He directed the Young Ringers at the 1992 and 1997 National Conferences.  He has directed at the National Conferences of American Guild of English Handbell Ringers in 1993 and 1995.  Each year he directs and teaches at numerous festivals, conferences and workshops throughout the United States and around the world. He has brought music to children and adults in nine different countries in various humanitarian trips, most recently to China, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Mauritania and the Czech Republic. As a public school director his handbell ensembles have performed at three California Music Educator Conferences and in concerts throughout California, Nevada,  and parts of Oregon.  As the Bells in Schools Coordinator for Area XII, he has organized a number of school handbell festivals.   The handbell and chimes loan program he developed for schools is now used throughout the U.S. The Handbell Difficulty System, which he originated and which is applied to nearly all handbell music, was born out of a desire to develop an objective means of grading and determining music levels, an important need for curriculum development. He is a past chairman of the Committee for Handbells in Music Education on the national board of the A.G.E.H.R. His writings appear regularly in Overtones  and the Area XII newsletter, 12th Tone. as well as other music education journals.  He was the editor of the Ring newsletter, past director of Bay Bells Handbell Ensemble. 
He is a composer and arranger of chamber, choral, band and handbell music.

*Runkle, Helen   -  Honorary Life  --  In her book, "The First Quarter Century; 54-79," Elizabeth Bradford writes:   "Another enthusiastic contributor to the spread of bellringing was Helen M. Runkle, a quiet, self-effacing musician from Gloucester, MA.  She had a small set of bells but arranged the music so skillfully that it was most delightful to hear.  Her six Cape Ann Ringers rang from memory, expertly handling the two octave set without using a table.  Ringers in charge of more than two bells had their bells conveniently hung from ribbons around their necks.  One hanging bell could be exchanged readily for another.  It was delightful to watch the graceful, spirit, and sensitive ringing. Mrs. Runkle, though modest and self-effacing, succeeded in being among the first, if not the first, to have her bell arrangements published by J. Fischer and Brothers.  Many a beginning group, or groups with as few as two octaves of bells, have enjoyed using her HANDBELL CONCERT, published in 1959."  In the September 1974 issue of OVERTONES, Richard Litterst wrote In Memoriam to Helen Runkle:  "For many years we would renew our acquaintance each August at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  During the 1950's, it was almost a tradition that she would bring her Cape Ann Ringers from Glouchester for one of the demi-concerts.  There would always be five young girls of post senior high age who would stand in a single line and play, from memory, a program on the small diatonic set of bells numbering about 17 altogether.  Little used extra bells were hung on a ribbon around the neck; when such a bell was needed, one of the main bells (right or left hand, was temporarily retired to the little finger of the other hand, thus freeing one hand to ring the suspended bell.  Extra bells for other pieces rested at the feet of the ringers.  On May 23, 1974, Helen Runkle died.  Of her work for, and participating in, the New England Guild of English Handbell Ringers and the early days of the formation the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, we are, indeed, the beneficiaries.  It was most fitting that she held honorary membership in AGEHR.  God bless!"