WHAT DID HE/SHE SAY? - Marilyn Chandler
They are coming to a choir near you...maybe even yours! Many of the baby boomers in your choir, for many different reasons, are losing their hearing. During the mini rehearsal, learn what it is like to ring with a hearing impairment.....it's a real wake up call! Tried and true suggestions will be shared to empower the ringers in your choir to make rehearsals less stressful for everyone ....including the director!

Marilyn Chandler graduated from college with a degree in music education. She received her handbell education from many state and national AGEHR events and from Don Allured for more than 20 years at his renown Week of Handbells. She has led classes at workshops and Festivals across the nation and most recently at the 2007 AGEHR National Seminar. Equally at home with youth and adult choirs, she presently directs an adult community choir in Arizona.

William (Bill) Wood directs handbells and is organist at FUMC in Portales, NM. He chairs the Eastern NM Fall Handbell Festival, served two terms as Area XI secretary-treasurer, represented Area XI on the AGEHR national board, and is a published handbell composer-arranger. He taught elementary music in Jefferson County (Colorado) and retired as professor of music at Eastern New Mexico University after 31 years of service

PROCESSIONALS - Marcy Hontz
Want to impress your audience? Need something to introduce a special worship service? Do a processional. There are many types, from random ringing to bell trees. Processionals are fun and there's one for the abilities of your group. Come to class, try it, and discover resources available.

Marcy Hontz recently retired from directing the handbell program at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, AZ. During her 22 years as director she attended many National Festivals, Area Festivals and workshops of all kinds and put their ideas to use. She has taught at state festivals and at workshops for her church. She is looking forward to sharing what she has learned.

Mike McCrary is an assistant professor in the School of Accounting and Management Information Systems at the University of Tulsa. He is also an at-large member of the AGEHR, Inc. Board of Directors. In addition to his teaching and AGEHR duties, Mike has served churches for over 30 years both as organist and handbell choir director. He currently serves as Music Associate at University United Methodist Church in Tulsa and director of the Tulsa Festival Ringers, Tulsa's only auditioned community handbell choir. Mike has also served as dean of the American Guild of Organists Tulsa Chapter

Joan Lewis was born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico. After graduating from Hardin-Simmons University with a B.S. in Music Education, she taught elementary school general music.She has directed handbell choirs for twenty-seven years in Farmington, New Mexico. Currently she directs two handbell choirs, First Baptist Church, Bloomfield, NM and First United Methodist Church in Farmington.

CONDUCTING/REHEARSING HANDBELLS - Carolyn Deuel
Before the first downbeat, there is the choosing of music and study of music - detecting tricky spots - and noting all of the composer's instructions. There is strategy in introducing the piece and your hopes for the finished product to be beautiful or stirring or joyful. The conducting pattern provides unity and structure, but the conductor provides much more as a leader and collaborator, helping to create a living piece of Art.

Carolyn Deuel - Since 1981, Carolyn Deuel has directed handbells in Casper, WY. The Phoenix Ringers is a community ensemble of mixed ages. Her Bachelor of Music in Piano led to her teaching 20 piano students from age 5 to adults, and her Master of Arts in Organ to serving as the Director of Music/Organist for Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. She is the Executive Director of ARTCORE, which presents music, dance, theater, and special events.

YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS, DAHLING! - Anne Cotter/Sheryl Bertelson
Does your bell ringing look as good as it sounds? A bell performance is visual as well as audible. Learn ways to enhance your presentation so that you DO look mahvelous, dahling! For bell choir members as well as ensemble ringers.

Anne Cotter and Sheryl Bertelson are a professional handbell duet known as "Go Bellistic!" Anne Cotter's musical background includes piano and cello, and has been ringing handbells for 11 years. Sheryl Bertelson has a piano background and has been ringing bells for 9 years. They began duet handbell ringing together in 2000. "Go Bellistic!" performs at churches, handbell festivals and seminars, and for special occasions all over the United States. They also perform for many local organizations in Sedona, AZ for special events, and during the holiday season. Anne is the Arizona State Chair and a National Board member for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. Sheryl is the Northern Arizona State Representative and a State Board member for the organization.

Dr. Michael Mazzatenta is an award-winning composer of multiple competitions sponsored by Area I, II, III, and XI of the AGEHR. Additionally, Michael was the first double winner of both the Youth and Adult categories in Area II. He is currently the Chair of Area XI. Michael received his Doctoral degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University and performs as a concert organist, accompanist, handbell director, and jazz pianist.

Claudette Rothwell directs four bell choirs at Community United Methodist Church in Ogden, Utah. She has served AGEHR in the Utah sub-area as Secretary/Treasurer, Chair-elect, and Chair. She is currently the C.H.I.M.E. Chair for Area XI. She has a degree in Music Education from University of Northern Colorado. Helping others, especially children and youth learn the art of ringing chimes and bells is one of her favorite things to do!!!

BELL APPEAL: EDIFICATION FOR WORSHIP - Margi Zearley - How do you use bells in worship? Creative uses for processionals/ calls to worship/bell introits, achieving worshipful musical experiences and developing musicianship with ringers will be the focus of this workshop. This is a hands-on experience in the art of handbell ringing.

Margi Zearley is the Founder and Director of Sonoran Bells, a community handbell ensemble in Tucson, AZ. Margi has a B.S in Music Education from Penn State University and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. She currently teaches bells and chorus at Tortolita Middle School in the Marana School District.

Kathie Fink has been ringing bells for so long, that some believe she may have roamed the earth with the dinosaurs, about 6000 years ago. She must be a fossil, as she is told she is "well preserved". Kathie began ringing handbells when she was nine years old. As a teenager, she toured the United States with her family, known as the Fink Family Handbell Ringers. At handbell conferences, Kathie and others teach the solo ringing technique developed by her family. Kathie is a founding ringer of Sonos Handbell Ensemble. She recently retired from probation work in California and is semi-retired from ringing with Sonos Handbell Ensemble. Kathie spent most of 2007 taking The Legacy Tour "on the road," presenting the West Coast tous, the Southwest Tour, and the East Cost Tour. Kathie is the proud mother of two adult children, Jeremy (married to Veronica) and Alexis. Kathie currently calls the great State of Kentucky home.

Joe Keith has successfully directed handbell choirs for some 35 years in the Albuquerque area. For several years, he taught beginning conducting and directed the new music reading sessions at Area XI festivals. For 4 years, he was a Schulmerich District Manager in Arizona and New Mexico, but had to give up that responsibility when the family business, MUSIC MART, INC., grew to the point of demanding all of his time. Joe has twice served the Handbell Industry Council as national chair.