Waddell, Vivian - Bethany, OK -- waddell2@swbell.net
- Vivian has been involved in directing handbells since 1975
when she began directing the handbell choir at Mayflower Congregational
Church in Oklahoma City. Since that time, she has been handbell director
for several churches; three churches at one time during one year!
Vivian was one of the founding directors of the Central Oklahoma Ringers
and Directors (CORD) organization, serving as its President and Festival
Chairman. Through the years, she has been involved with bells as
a festival clinician, director of week-long handbell seminars, solo and
ensemble ringer, church workshop director, and for ten years was director
of a community choir, the Troubadour Ringers. Vivian currently directs
the Evensong Ringers at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.
She aspires to give the art of handbell ringing a position of great esteem
in the world of classical and sacred music.
Waggener, Lee 1631 N. Oxford Avenue Claremont CA 91711-
(714) 624-0236, lwaggner@aol.com
- 1990-92 Resource Chairman
Wagner, Douglas E. -- www.douglasewagner.com --
Douglas E. Wagner (b. 1952), a native of Chicago, Illinois, is an internationally recognized composer and arranger.
With thirty years as a secondary school music educator and administrator behind him, Mr. Wagner now devotes all of his time and energy to writing, editing and their allied activities. He is an A.S.C.A.P. award-winning composer, an editor for a major publishing company, and has served several denominations as a church musician. 2,400 titles of the music of Douglas E. Wagner have been published since 1973, including original works and arrangements for handbell ensemble, choir (church and school), concert band, orchestra, organ, piano, instrumental solo and voice. Well over fourteen million copies of his music have been sold to date. Performances of Mr. Wagner’s music have been noted in concert settings and on television and radio broadcasts in the United States, as well as on concert programs and broadcasts in no less than twenty-six foreign countries. He resides in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy, a professional artist and music engraver.
Waldrop, Tammy --23965 Arrowhead Point, New Caney, TX 77357 --
talywa@ev1.net
-- Composer/Arranger/Clinician/Editor/Church Musician and "Ringleader"
describe Tammy, a graduate of Baylor University (Bachelors and Masters
Degrees in Music Theory with an emphasis in composition). Tammy
has been writing and arranging for handbells and choral choirs since 1980,
with over 300 publications with 16 publishers. She developed the handbell
division of WORD MUSIC, where she also served as assistant choral editor,
and then established her own company, RING OUT! PRESS, now a part of the
Jeffers Publishing Group. She has served as musical director in numerous
churches. Tammy directs handbell workshops and festivals nationwide. She
now serves as handbell editor of Alfred publisher. mailtot: talywaev1.net
Waldvogel, Jeris -- Ebenezer, not AND Ebenezer!" Director,
Ebenezer Brass Handbell Choir, Ebenezer United Church of Christ, Chilton,
WI-- Jeris started the handbell program at Ebenezer U.C.C. in Chilton,
Wisconsin in January, 1991. We are a congregation of about 400 and
have 3 handbell choirs. Our ringers have toured Southwest England
and Scotland and plan a ringing tour of Germany, France and Switzerland
in June of 2003. Jeris has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and serves
as Music Director, Handbell Director and Organist. I particularly
enjoy being a part of handbell-l and appreciate all the contributions
of those who post.
WALLINGFORD HANDBELL RINGERS, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England
- www.wallingfordhandbells.com
Ward, Robert J -- 99 Sunnybrook Cr, Highland, NY,
12528, bobwardny@aol.com
-- Area II Chairman, AGEHR Composer
Watson, Doris (TS) Honorary Life 1996, .Doris
Watson is a pioneer in handbell ringing in the United States. As
one of the first people to introduce handbell ringing in churches, her
choirs were a definite change from the practice of the day. Before
her work, most sets were owned by individuals who had family and/or community
groups. She has lived to see the regeneration of interest in the
Community Groups. Her early choirs not only introduced handbells
in the church service, but also made use of more harmonies than was the
custom. At that time, her practices were considered by some to be
questionable. Undaunted, she furthered the cause by having her bell
choir appear twice on the old Gary Moore TV show in 1948; an exposure that
is credited with the beginning of a nation-wide interest in handbells.
Doris is a charter member of the AGEHR, having attended the first festival
gatherings of the New England Guild of English Handbell Ringers at Castle
Hill. She has published numerous articles in the early OVERTONES
and also wrote one of the first books on handbell ringing. She has
remained active in the Guild for over 40 years, participating in AGEHR
tours and attending most of the recent Seminars.
Watson, Elizabeth (Beth) - Austin, TX - bwatson@nwhillsumc.org
-- Beth currently serves as President (2003) of the American Guild
of English Handbell Ringers. Beth is active as a clinician and conductor
for local, state, regional, and national festivals, conferences and seminars
and has been doing so for the past 20 years. Beth has served as National
Music Chairman for AGEHR 1989-91, Secretary/Treasurer of Area IX AGEHR,
and President of the Greater Dallas Handbell Association. President
Elect AGEHR, Inc. 1999, Director of Music Ministries at Northwest Hills
United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. Conductor, Clinician
Watts, Terry -- Musc Director, Alta Woods Baptist
Church, Jackson, MS. -- Former Area VI AGEHR chair.
Waugh, Tim H -- PO Box 1700, Bluefield, WV 24701-1700 -- (304)320-2715
or 619-WAUGH TH -- www.timwaugh.com -- timweb@timwaugh.com -- Tim is a Free Lance Musician, specializing in Performance Arts
Education,
Composing, Conducting and providing clinics in many facets of music.
He is retired from full time public education after 33 years and church
music after 32 years. He currently has served as Artist-in-Residence
at
Beckley Presbyterian Church since January 1999. Tim has conducted across the US and in Canada, England and Puerto Rico.
He is in demand as a conductor and clinician for handbell and choral
festivals. His RHYTHMS2RINGING workshops have sustained their
popularity
over two decades. The AGEHR named him as a Master Teacher in Rhythm. Additionally, Tim is a published composer and is in demand as a
commissioned
composer of handbell, choral, organ and liturgical music. He is
available for
workshops and conferences of all types!
Weck, David L. -- , davidw@hopepublishing.com
-- David serves as an editor of Hope Publishing Company in Carol
Stream Illinois, where he is solely responsible for creating and developing
the company's handbell catalog . He is founder and director of THE AGAPE
RINGERS , an auditioned community handbell ensemble from the Chicago area.
His extensive work in handbells has included guest conducting and teaching
for area,national and international events. For over 30 years, David
has been an avid church muscian. Editor, Conductor, Clinician
Wells, Jason T -- Jason played handbells growing up in Southern California and didn't find himself on the "other side of the table" until finding a set of bells in a closet on the island of Palau in 1992. Jason founded Ring of Fire in 1997 while teaching at Tualatin Valley Junior Academy. He has promoted handbells in many diverse venues, including the Presidential Inauguration, NBA Basketball games, the Crystal Cathedral, and the Portland Marathon, and on national radio and TV. Jason pioneered handbells on DVD with Ring of Fire's 2001 DVD release. Jason continues to serve as a conductor and clinician for area festivals in the US and Canada, and has taught classes on memorization and motivation on the national level. In addition to directing Ring of Fire at TVJA, Jason teaches English, History, Photography, Videography, Yearbook, and serves as Vice Principal. In his spare time, he sleeps. 2007 update from webmistress: Jason has moved to Florida. Picture at right is from the Spring Ring in Cupertino, California.
Wencek, Nancy -- Whitinsville, MA, ntilden1@charter.net
-- Nancy has been in and around handbells for 30 years. Studied with
Bob Ivey and Kathy Ebling Thorne at Westminster Choir College, written
articles about handbells. Has won 2 major internet card tournaments
using the name "handbellringer", in hopes of promoting handbells.
As a result of the card tournaments, Nancy has had people contact her asking
about the name and where can they join a handbell choirs in their area.
Made a "me page" on eBay about handbells with contacts from that as well.http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/handbellringer/
While not a director except when absolutely necessary, Nancy is helping
organize a local festival in her area.
Westcott, Wendell -- Dr. Westcott is retired and living in East Lansing, MI and still plays the carillon there on weekends when weather permits a walk to the tower. He is obviously a distinguished friend to handbells. The blueline below is to his tribute/information page on the Michigan State University system. Dr. Westcott is quite accomplished as a Carillon performer, as the founder of the Spartan Ringers, and as an author, among many other accolades. Go to his site (http://www.msu.edu/~carillon/westcott.htm)and
check out his book entitled "Bells and their Music." It is a treasure
trove of bell knowledge including some technical stuff. Best contact
would be an Email to MSU to the public relations person, who might be able
to get you in touch with Dr. Westcott. Kathleen Walsh walshka@msu.edu.
Early HB personality, Arranger, Carilloneur.
WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE OF RIDER UNIVERSITY -- Princeton, NJ
-- www.westminsterringers.org
WESTMINSTER RINGERS, THE - Westminster, MD - Director,
Larry Henning - Contact, Debbie Henning - director@thewestminsterringers.org -- www.thewestminsterringers.org
Whear, Dr. Paul A composer for band and orchestra who has
used bells as a percussion instrument in some of his compositions.d
He was commissioned by the Hershey Symphony to write "The Celtic Christmas
Carol" for 3 octave bell choir and orchestra (for handbell choir, tympani,
percussion, and strings.). Although he is not a bell person like
some of the rest of us, he is so interested in bells he is buying his own
set, one bell at a time as he needs them for his compositions and then
takes them along when he guest conducts, knowing that they won't be available
on site. Dr. Whear lists among his honors eight prizes
in national composition contests, MacDowell Colony Fellowships, grants
from the National Endowment for the Arts, continuing ASCAP awards and a
Huntington Hartford Residence Fellowship. FANFARE magazine listed
him as one of America's top ten composers for Band. His compositions
have been performed all over the United States, in Canada, Japan and nine
European Nations. He has guest conducted in most of the states, Canada,
Japan, the Netherlands and England, and is a frequent clinician with orchestras,
bands and instrumental groups of all levels.
Wilcox, Betty - 911 - 18th Street
Des Moines IO 50313- Sec
Wildman. RoseMarie 1602 Regent Drive Mount Kisco
NY 10549- (914) 666-6825 -- 1987-1989
Secretary
Wilson, Malcolm C -- 1A Stirling Road / Dunblane Perthshire / Scotland FK15 9EP -- Contact via www.claganach.net. Malcolm C Wilson directs the handbell programme at Dunblane Cathedral (www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk). He holds a degree and teaching qualifications in both Music and Primary Education. He was for seven years National Membership Secretary of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain (www.hrgb.org.uk) and was conferred Honorary Life Membership of that Society in recognition of his work in promoting ringing in Scotland. He was the founding Chairman of the Scottish Regional Association of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain (www.hrgbscotland.org.uk). He has been church organist, piano tutor and accompanist. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; is Britain's widest published composer/ arranger for the handbell medium, published in both Britain and the USA. He has delivered lectures about handbells, led ringing workshops and been massed ringing conductor for many events in Britain, was massed-ringing conductor at the International Handbell Symposium in Canada in l992, in Birmingham, England in 2000; in Toronto, Canada in 2004, was guest clinician at the Handbell Exploration in Arizona in 1996, and has contributed many articles about handbell ringing to several magazines and periodicals. He has organised the annual UK's National Ring in Praise Handbell Seminars for Church Musicians (www.ringinpraise.org.uk) since their inception in 1988, and the first 4 UK National Residential Ringing Weeks. -- AGEHR Composer.
Wiltse, Carl E -- Skye House, 108 High Street, Kirkcudbright DG6 4JQ U.K. -- Email: skyehouse108@btinternet.com -- Phone: 011 44 1557 331 292 -- Wiltse’s handbell compositions are played all over the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as Japan. He has over 90 handbell and choral arrangements and original compositions in publication. He has won composition contests sponsored by the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Inc., and a hymn competition sponsored by First United Methodist Church of San Diego, California. He receives annual awards from ASCAP for his work. Since 2003, Mr Wiltse has been Director and Conductor of the Bay View (MI) Week of Handbells, founded in 1978 by noted handbell authority Dr. Donald E. Allured. In the fall of 1995, he founded Embellish, a community handbell ensemble based in the Grand Rapids area, and served as their Musical Director for their first three seasons. Since retiring from teaching, he is spending his time fulfilling commissions, singing, and other music-related activities. Prior to his move to Scotland, he served as Composer-in-residence at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids (MI). He presently directs the Newton Stewart Singers, and sings with the Choir of St John's Scottish Episcopal Church of Dumfries, Scotland. Mr. Wiltse is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR), and the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain.
-- AGEHR Composer.
Wiltse, Stephanie -- wiltse@iserv.net -- Stephanie first learned to
ring at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids MI under the
direction of Lee Afdahl, now a well-known handbell clinician and composer.
Stephanie began directing handbell ensembles herself in 1992 and now
directs five handbell ensembles. Stephanie is a founding member of
Embellish, the Grand Rapids area community handbell ensemble, and has
served as Music Director of the group since the Fall of 1999. She now
directs a second group in the Embellish program, Campana, a group which
offers an advanced ringing experience with a less demanding schedule. Her
church positions include six years at South Congregational Church UCC, six
years at Park Congregational Church UCC, and six years at LaGrave
Christian Reformed Church in downtown Grand Rapids. She now directs one of
the adult handbell choirs at Trinity United Methodist Church where she
also serves as music leader for one of the weekly services. She holds
adjunct faculty posts as handbell director for Aquinas College and Calvin
College. Stephanie is currently serving a six-year term as an elected
member of the National Board of the AGEHR. She has taught classes and
conducted ringing tracks for Area V conferences, and chaired the audition
process and conducted Ring-a-Holic sessions for Pinnacle 2002 and 2004.
She has served as clinician for ringing and directors' events in Oakland
CA, Kokomo IN, Tucson AZ, Cleveland OH, and Raleigh NC, and will direct
events in Portland OR and Portales NM in the 2010/2011 years.
Wissinger, Kathleen (Kath) - - Longwalk3@aol.com
-- Kath simply loves bells and bell people. She directs "Spectrum," an advanced ensemble of high school ringers, at Massanutten Pres. Church, Penn Laird, Va. Spectrum generally has 6-9 ringers on 3-5 octaves, tours each semester and has presented demonstration classes at the Area III Youth Festival. Her previous long-standing teen choir "touch of Jesus" released two CD's, "Circle of Bronze" and "Ring Around the Moon" (both available through Jeffers.) Published by AGEHR, Hope, STEP, GIA, Alfred, National Music Publishers, Above the Line, Lorenz, Choristers Guild, Composers Music, SoundForth, From the Top and HighMeadow, Kath has about 50 pieces in print including solo/duets/ensembles to full-choir; sacred, secular and novelty pieces; original pieces, original hymns and hymn tune arrangements. She welcomes commissions of all the above. Kath also teaches and directs at many events (2007 National Seminar in Dallas; Massed and Tins at the 2005 Area I Festival in Durham, NH.) She has studied directing under William Payn and David Davidson and composition under John Behnke and Arnold Sherman. Currently Kath is a board member for Area III AGEHR. A former National Park Ranger, with a degree in geology, Kath also taught Environmental Ed. and still has presented many programs for Elder Hostels. She teaches piano in her home studio, teaches K-8th music at Redeemer Classical School (4th-8th grade on bells), and has lead chiming sessions for handicapped adults and students. See her compositions and upcoming events at her web page: KathWissinger.wetpaint.com
Wolfe, Cindy - Oklahoma City, OK. -- ringokc@cox.net -- Cindy was handbell-deprived until 1991, when she first heard them played in a church she and her husband had joined. She immediately said, I want to do that! and a new bell enthusiast was born. She began ringing in The Canticle Ringers church bell choir in the fall of 1991 and liked it so much that she and three friends from that choir formed an ensemble as well. In addition to becoming a member of AGEHR, Cindy joined a local organization called CORD, Central Oklahoma Ringers & Directors, which is an advocate group for handbells in Oklahoma, and in 1995 she was asked to be a member of the CORD board as Secretary/Treasurer, a position she held for three years, and to start a newsletter for the organization. She also created a website for CORD, which can be accessed at www.cordbells.org
. In 1998, she began directing a teen handbell choir at her church, working
with a wonderful group of young people. She also
served as Publications Editor for AGEHR Area IX. Cindy
says, Handbells have enriched my life so much, and I have met so many wonderful
people in the handbell world.
* Wood, Dale, -- Composer
Wood, William -- 509 E 17th Lane, Portales,
NM, 88130, william.wood@enmu.edu
-- William Wood serves as Area XI rep and lives in Portales, New
Mexico. He is professor emeritus of Eastern New Mexico University
where he taught music education, keyboard, and handbells for 31 years,
retiring in 1999. Bill has been involved in handbells since 1980
at First United Methodist Church where he also serves as church organist.
Guild service includes two terms as Area XI secretary-treasurer.
His choirs have performed at state, Area XI, and national conferences,
and he chairs a local handbell festival which he organized in 1994.
He has presented workshop sessions at Area XI and Directors Seminar and
has a number of published handbell arrangements including "The All-American
Hometown Band," "Gladiolus," and "De Colores." Wood holds music degrees
from Westmar College, Kansas State University, and the University of Oklahoma.
Prior to moving to New Mexico he was an elementary music teacher in the
Jefferson County (Colorado) Public Schools with assignments in Lakewood
and Arvada. -- AGEHR Composer
Wortman, Allen L. 3 Mapleridge Court North,
Mankato MN 56001- (507) 345-2751 -- 1988-90
Resource Chairman
