Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summit 2020 has been CANCELLED

Michèle Sharik rings professionally with Sonos Handbell Ensemble, is the founding Artistic Director of Timbré, and is an internationally-renowned handbell soloist, conductor, and teacher. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts in 2012 from Cal State San Marcos and a Graduate Certificate in Performing Arts Medicine in 2017 from Shenandoah University, and updated her certification in 2019 from the Performing Arts Medicine Association. Michèle is Master Teacher of Handbell Techniques for the Certification program of the Handbell Musicians of America, and is a former Chair of Area 12. She is looking forward to meeting all the wonderful ringers in Area 9!

Michèle is teaching the following classes:

• There’s More Than One Way to Peel a Banana

• 50 Shades of Damping

Beth Judd is retired from full-time Music and Arts Ministry after 40+ years of conducting children, youth and adult singing and ringing choirs, overseeing Liturgical Dance and Art Gallery ministries, and developing extensive concert series. She served as President of AGEHR, the Greater Dallas Handbell Association, Secretary/Treasurer for Area 9, Associate Conductor of the Dallas Handbell Ensemble, and the first conductor of Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Beth continues as a conductor and clinician for seminars, festivals, and denominational worship and music conferences. She served as conductor for the 2015 HMA Distinctly Bronze East event, as well as the International Symposium in Toronto. Beth is honored to be currently serving as a volunteer for Hospice Austin.

Beth is teaching the following classes:
● Worship Alive! Creative Use of Bells in Worship
● Conducting Coaching

Josh Fitzgerald is originally from Colorado but has had handbell experiences all over the world.  Some career highlights include starting a handbell ministry in Nicaragua, playing for crowds in Germany and Austria with Kokopelli, and performing in BYU-Idaho’s televised Christmas special with Sonos.  He has been a clinician at various local and Area events, as well as National Seminar, and is part of the Guild’s Certification Faculty.  Additionally, he’s been a member of 9 different auditioned community choirs, is a Distinctly Bronze Alumni of 15 years, and has served on the leadership boards of both Area 5 and Area 9.  Once upon a time, he was the Director of Creative Arts for a large UMC where he led a handbell ministry of 8 ensembles.  He’s now a Flight Attendant for a major carrier and runs an e-commerce and auction business.

Josh is teaching the following classes:

Ms. Kizzee has 36 years of progressive handbell ringing, conducting, directing and clinician experience. She holds a Master of Church Music Ministry Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. She also holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Central Michigan University.
Ms. Kizzee is the founding music director and conductor of Virginia Bronze, an advanced auditioned community handbell ensemble located in Northern Virginia. While in Virginia, Ms. Kizzee served on the HMA Area 3 Board (which includes Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, and North Carolina).
Music teaching is Ms. Kizzee’s passion. Handbells and Handchimes, vocal pedagogy, piano, and church music ministry are her means of expressing this musical passion.
Ms. Kizzee served in the U.S. Navy, and was a Human Resources Specialist for the federal government, retiring from the Pentagon in January 2016 and relocating to Denton, Texas in 2017. Currently, she is an Engineering Recruiter at Peterbilt Motors Company in Denton, Texas.

Zana is teaching the following classes:

• Conducting 1 — Review the basics

The solo handbell artistry of Christine D. Anderson is world-renowned. With finesse, grace and dexterity, Christine’s solo handbell artistry has thrilled audiences in 26 countries and 50 states, and her fans around the world will tell you that you’ll never be the same after hearing and seeing Christine play.
Christine began her handbell ringing career at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in late 1972. After completing a B.A. in music at Florida Atlantic University, she directed 6 handbell choirs at Coral Ridge and began conducting workshops and festivals around the country. Christine has published over 120 solo handbell arrangements, produced 3 DVDs and 3 CDs, all reflecting her commitment to excellence in handbell ringing. She has been an annual recipient of the ASCAP Standards Award for compositions and performances for many years.

Christine D. Anderson is an outstanding clinician and in constant demand for handbell workshops and festivals, incorporating a teaching style that makes learning fun and techniques unforgettable. With many years of conducting experience and performing solo concerts, she easily communicates the skills needed for musical ringing. Christine’s expertise ranges from beginning choirs through advanced, solo, and ensemble ringing, including handbell maintenance and repair.

Christine is teaching the following classes:

• Sparkle or Splat?

• 4-in-hand Quartet Ringing

• Multiple Bells-in-hand Techniques

Stevie Berryman is astonishingly good at the game Boggle. She can fold a fitted sheet so it looks like it came right out of the package. Likewise, her skills as music director and teacher have also been acquired through long hours of arduous and dedicated practice. For much of her career Stevie has directed seven or more ensembles each week, meaning she has 98 years of experience (in dog years). Her effusive energy and wild creativity found a perfect setting in 2013 when she became the Artistic Director of the Houston Chamber Ringers, which has let her smash together her love for music, laughter, and tacos in a truly remarkable way. She has a particular passion for teaching children how to ring, and her innovative methods have made her a sought after educator at area and national handbell festivals. Stevie serves as the handbell director at First Congregational Church Houston, and loves helping other choirs as a private clinician or planning epic concerts for them as a creative consultant. She and her husband Paul are co-owners of Truly Horrible Things, a snarky card game company, even though her mother always told her that no one would ever pay her to be sarcastic.

Stevie is teaching the following classes:

• Successful Sight-Reading

• Handbell Escape Room

Beth LaMee began ringing handbells in 1st grade at the age of 6 and her parents knew from the first concert that she was going to be a handbell director (as she turned to correct the person playing next to her!) She continued to play on and off through high school as long as there was a handbell choir to play in. In college, Beth played for and learned many important skills from her college director who taught her the art of handbell assignments, how to ring 4-in-hand and taught her how to ring in a Quartet. Beth moved from Virginia to Texas in 2003 to get her Masters of Church Music and began directing her first handbell choir. She is currently serving her 13th year as the Assistant Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Mansfield, TX where she directs 2 Multigenerational choirs, a Quartet, a Community Children’s Handbell Choir program and rings handbell solos on the side. When Beth is not busy at church, she loves spending time with her husband, 7 year old daughter and 3 year old son as well as reading and crafting!

Beth is teaching the following classes:

• Making the Most With What You Have

• Handbell Boot Camp

Chris has rung or directed handbells since 2005. A bass bell ringer by choice, he is also a composer, cellist, clarinetist, and pianist. He holds degrees in music composition from Baylor University, Florida State University, and the University of Kansas. Chris has rung with the Baylor Bronze ensemble and Dallas’ Cast of Bronze. He currently directs the handbell choirs at First United Methodist Church in Round Rock, Texas, and is looking forward to his first handbell publications with Hope and Beckenhorst in 2019.

Chris is teaching the following classes: