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Andrea Bowles (President) is
a native Floridian who grew up in the Orlando area. Her ringing
experiences began over twenty years ago in the sixth grade in the
children's handbell choir at First Baptist Church of Central Florida
(formerly FBC-Pine Hills). She continued ringing with the junior
high and adult handbell choirs before auditioning for The Magic of
Bronze in 2000. Her musical background includes high school
chorus and playing the violin in the church orchestra. A graduate
of The University of Central Florida, Andrea currently teaches middle
school language arts and has been involved with the school's music
department, even performaing "Pirates of the Carribbean" with the
students in the advanced handbell choir. She also was a chaperone
on their trip to Tallahassee in 2007 where they rang for the Senate. In
her spare time, Andrea enjoys reading, riding roller coasters,
scrapbooking, and trips to the Smokies. Andrea was honored to
have The Magic of Bronze provide the music for her wedding in 2007.
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| Ariel Curl (Events Coordinator)
has been ringing with The Magic of
Bronze since 1999. Her musical background includes piano
and oboe. She has sung with the Bach Festival Choir, the
Sweet Adelines Sound of Sunshine Chorus, and also appeared in
the Central Florida Civic Theater production of the musical
"Lil Abner." Ariel has an undergraduate degree in
nursing, a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of
Toronto, and a Master's degree in teaching. She is a
retired operating room nurse, having enjoyed a variety of
roles in the operating room, including clinical
instructor. She is a proud mother and grandmother and
enjoys traveling. |
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| Alan
Davis |
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| Susan Davis joined Magic of Bronze in August of 2006. She has
taught music at Park Maitland School for fifteen years.
At First Congregational Church of Winter Park, she directed
handbell ensembles for twenty years, children’s choirs for
over three years, and youth choir for two years. Susan
is currently serving as Director of Children’s Music at Winter
Park Presbyterian Church. She has played flute and
piccolo with the Florida Space Coast Pops Orchestra for over
ten years. She plays flute in a harp/flute duo with
harpist Jan Jennings, and she works as a freelance flutist in
the Central Florida area. Susan holds a Bachelor of
Music degree in multiple woodwinds and a Master of Music
degree in flute performance from Louisiana State
University. She and her husband, Alan, and their three
daughters, Christina, Rebecca and Sarah are all active
musicians.
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| Su
Graham (Secretary)
became a handbell ringer about 20 years
ago. She joined MOB in
1999, but took a year off in 2006 to work on her Master's in
Elementary Reading and Literature. She is currently a
Title I instructor in a private school. In April 2007,
Su had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall with the First
Presbyterian Church of Orlando premeiring "Mass for the
Millenium" composed by George Atwell. Her hobbies include
ballroom dancing and watching movies. Su enjoys spending
time with her son and his wife in California and her daughter
and grandson in Florida.
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| Deb
Holloway
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Blanche Marie Lewis
(Director)
first worked with handbell choirs as the flute soloist while
pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance at
Florida Southern College. After finishing a Masters Degree in
Music Therapy at Florida State University, getting married and
settling in Central Florida, she began playing handbells in
her church choir. Since then, Blanche Marie has directed a variety
of handbell ensembles in central Florida churches, rung
in small ensembles, performed solo bell pieces, and has served
as a handbell clinician and workshop leader in area events.
She enjoys arranging handbell pieces and has published a
collection of handbell inspired poetry entitled "belle bon mot".
Blanche Marie has earned the AGEHR title of 'Certified
Handbell Director'. In addition to directing the
Magic of Bronze, Blanche Marie is the Handbell Director at Ascension
Lutheran Church in Casselberry, FL. Blanche Marie also
teaches private lessons in flute, beginning piano, and handbells.
If you are interested in having Blanche Marie Lewis
work with you, your handbell choir, or workshop, please
contact her at blanchemarie@cfl.rr.com
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Carolyn
Looney has
been ringing with The Magic of Bronze since 2005. Carolyn earned her
Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Florida
Southern College, and having a music background in piano and voice, she
was also a member of the Concert Choir. She was introduced to
handbells in 1979 and has been ringing ever since, to include churches
in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. At present,
she is a member of Christ Carillon at the Winter Garden First United
Methodist Church where she also directed the children's bell choir or
several years. In addition to Christ Carillon, Carolyn is an
occasional bell soloist for church and weddings. She currently
teaches Intensive Reading to 8th graders at Windy Hill Middle School in
Clermont.
Carolyn is especially proud of her three children. Her son Chris,
who lives in Olympia, Washington, just received his Ph.D in
Environmental Science. He and wife Amanda have a seven year old
son, Elliot. Her daughter Mary Beth graduated from UCF and in
addition to being mother to precious 11 month old Bryce, teaches
Physical Education in Orange County. Son Brandon graduated from
UF and is a first Lieutenant pilot in the Army. He and his wife
Emily are currently stationed in Germany. In her spare time,
Carolyn enjoys reading, solving Wordoku puzzles, doing English
Smocking, basketry, and other crafts. |
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| Rhonda Meyers (Vice-President)
returns to The
Magic of Bronze where she was a charter member. She rang
bells for five years in the youth choirs of her childhood
church in the small town of Clarkston, Michigan. For six
years, Rhonda rang with the Carillon Handbell Choir of Grace
United Methodist Church, Aberdeen, MD prior to moving to
Central Florida in 1993. In 1995, she was instrumental
in starting the handbell music ministry and is currently the
director of the 3-octave Carillon Ringers Handbell Choir at
University Carillon United Methodist Church where she
occasionally rings solo. Rhonda's musical background
includes piano, oboe, and singing. Rhonda is employed by the
U.S. Army where she is a cost analyst. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Office Administration from Michigan
State University and a Masters of Business Administration
degree from Webster University. She lives in Oviedo with
her husband, David, and children, John and
Stephani. In her spare time, Rhonda enjoys sewing,
baking and gardening.
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| Jan Reker (Treasurer) is a charter
member of The Magic of Bronze. She has been involved in music
as a piano and harpsichord player, ballet accompanist,
woodwind instrument player, and board member of music
organizations. She was a musician with the UCF Early
Music Ensemble and accompanied many Shakespeare plays.
Currently she rings handbells at Winter Park Presbyterian
Church. Jan enjoys nature and is involved with the
Winter Park Garden Club. She is also an avid race-walker and
quilter.
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Sally Spatafore joins the Magic of
Bronze from Central Illinois where she rang for 11 years in 2
churches. Sally has a degree in music education from
Illinois State University. Currently, she is
teaching 5th grade at Davenport School of the
Arts, as well as directing a student handbell
choir.
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Former Members
| Allaback, Julie
s |
Graham, Natalie |
Mathis, Mayann |
Ritter, Nancy * |
| Auman, Judy |
Guedes, Carol |
McBrayer, June |
Smith, Shirley |
| Burt, Andrea |
Holten, Joanne |
McDonnell, Ruth*# |
Valiukonis, Joyce |
| Cooley, Rachel |
Hunt, Jennifer |
Newman, Susan |
Warren, Lynn |
| Cuny, Mary Jo |
Irwin, Dana |
Owens, Tammy |
White,
Donalline |
| Eaton, Cheryl * |
Larson, Andy
|
Pike, Stephanie |
Wittcop, Melissa |
| Gilman, Penny |
Larson, Barbara |
Piper, Julie |
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| Goodwin, Diane |
Lewis, Mark |
Powell, Abby |
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| Gonzalez, Angie |
Lovett, Laura* |
Precht, Amy |
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*denotes founding member # denotes former director
* Founding
Member
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