Board of Directors:
Chair-Lynn Bogovich (2013)
Chair-Elect-Laura Shelton (2015)
Treasurer-Nancy Ritter (2013)
Kyler Brengle (2015)
Marilyn B. Converse (2015)
David Engle (2013)
Jason A. Harwood (2015)
Fran Underwood (2013)
Appointed Staff:
Secretary to the Board-Peggy Brengle
Event Coordinator-Debbie Henning
Area III Advisory Council
Delaware Chair-Linda Simms
Maryland Chair-Karen Allen
Virginia Chair-Paul Brill
North Carolina Chair-Marilyn Reese
Metro Washington Chair-Jerry Hill
Other Appointed Staff
Bell-O-Gram Editor-Michael Glasgow
CHIME Loan Program-Kath Wissinger
Event Registrar-Debbie Henning
Educational Liaison-Linda Simms
Historian-Melissa Nobile
Layout Coordinator-Gregg Bogovich
Membership-Laura Blauch
Mentor Chair-Ruella M. Barnes
Scholarship Committee Chair-Linda Lamb
Media Librarian-Andy Siegel
Webmaster-Lawrence Stewart
Lynn Bogovich, Chair
Lynn Bogovich is the Director of Handbells and Orchestra at the Community United Methodist Church in Crofton, Maryland. A graduate of UMBC, Baltimore, Maryland, she has over forty-five years of experience as an organist; choral, handbell and orchestra director; private music educator; composer and arranger of handbell and orchestra music; ensemble, percussion and clinician leader of workshops for Area 2 and Area 3; professional percussionist; and is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Anacrusis Quintet. Lynn is a prior Maryland State Chair of Area 3, prior Secretary to the Board of Area 3 , currently serves as the Area 3 Chair-Elect, and works for NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope as a Project Manager. EMAIL
Laura Shelton, Chair-Elect
Nancy Ritter, Treasurer
Nancy Ritter was born near Chicago and lived in 7 states before moving to Raleigh in 1998. She is now in her 11th year ringing with The Raleigh Ringers and also works for the group as its Managing Director. Nancy began ringing bells at age 8 in her church, and since that time has rung with numerous church and non-church groups, including the Purdue University Bell Choir, Orlando’s Magic of Bronze community group, a professional four-in-hand ensemble and as a solo ringer. Nancy also directed adult and children’s handbell choirs for 15 years in Rhode Island and Florida before moving to Raleigh. Nancy holds a degree in Management from Purdue University and has almost completed a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke. In addition to ringing, she enjoys playing flute, traveling (she has visited all 50 states!), hiking, yoga and supporting the activities of her husband and two sons. EMAIL
Nancy Ritter: 8916 Wellsley Way, Raleigh, NC 27613, 919-523-7252
Kyler Brengle, Board Member
Kyler has recently retired from a 32-year career with Carroll County Public Schools (Maryland) working in various positions ranging from high school band director to the district’s Career Development Coordinator. He has played in church handbell choirs since his high school years in Middletown, Maryland and is currently directing Wesley Carillon adult handbell choir at Westminster United Methodist Church. Kyler is also a member of the Westminster Ringers, an auditioned community handbell ensemble based in Westminster, MD. In addition to playing handbells, he enjoys arranging music and photography. EMAIL
Marilyn B. Converse, Board Member
Marilyn Converse began ringing handbells in her church in Pittsburgh, Pa. When she moved to Maryland and found there was no handbell choir at the church which her family decided to join, she took the steps necessary to get the church interested in buying handbells and getting a choir started. She has been directing handbell choirs at this church, Trinity Lutheran in North Bethesda, Md. , since she founded the program in 1985. Over the years she has had as many as three handbell choirs and has involved over 120 children, youth, and adults in the program. Marilyn has served as Area 3 District Chair and as Repertoire Chair. She also attends Area 3 events and the National Seminar annually. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Biology and a graduate degree in Physical Therapy, which she practiced for over 10 years. In addition to her work in handbells, she is currently working part time as store manager at a private school. She lives in Rockville, Md. with her husband, Bob. They have three grown daughters. Her husband and children have all played handbells in her choirs. Marilyn also enjoys attending concerts, playing piano, needlework, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. EMAIL
David Engle, Board Member
David has been involved with music on the other side of the music stand or choral director while participating in high school marching and concert band and church and community choral groups for many years. He began ringing handbells in 2002 and has been directing the hand bell choir at Summit Presbyterian Church in Stafford, Virginia for 7 years. In 2010, David helped organize an informal “Ringers Ringing for Ringers” event in the Fredericksburg/Stafford, VA area. Six choirs participated in that event. In 2011 the event was expanded to a full day festival format and had 12 choirs participating under the direction of Nancy Cappel. He has been the District 6 Coordinator for directors and handbell choirs in north-central Virginia and is the Event Chair for the 2012 Director Seminar. David graduated from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) and was a U.S. Air Force Officer. He is retired from the Federal Government, and has worked with several private IT firms. He and his wife, Viola, also sing in their church choir. In their spare time they like to travel to view lighthouses and to visit their children and grandchildren in Seattle, Washington. EMAIL
Jason A. Harwood, Board Member
Jason Harwood has been involved with handbells for nearly 15 years. Currently, Jason serves as Director of Music for Mount Zion United Church of Christ in China Grove, North Carolina. He also teaches elementary music for the Rowan-Salisbury School system. In addition to his church and school work, Jason directs two community choirs. In the summer of 2012, he will be coordinating and teaching handbells at Lutheridge Music Week. A 2004 graduate of Appalachian State University, Jason lives in Rockwell, North Carolina with his wife Chrissy and their two year old son, Levi. EMAIL
Fran Underwood
Fran began ringing in 1988 when her sister invited her to attend an Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 adult festival where she jumped in with both feet and caught the ringing bug. Fran is the Associate Director of Music Ministries at Messiah United Methodist Church in Springfield, Virginia where she oversees the children’s music program, consisting of 2 ringing and 3 vocal ensembles, as well as directing youth and adult handbell ensembles and a women’s choir. Fran has served Handbell Musicians of America as the Event Chair for Area 3 Directors’ Seminars, 2006 – 2008. She is a member of Virginia Bronze, an auditioned, community-based handbell ensemble serving the Northern Virginia area. In June 2008, Fran was the handbell clinician for Church Music Institute at Shenandoah University. She has served several times as handbell clinician for the FUMMWA-sponsored Kaleidoscope Music Camp in Blackstone, Virginia. And she was the director of the United Methodist Virginia Conference 2009 mission youth choir, Voices of Youth. Fran holds a MoM in Church Music from Shenandoah University. She has attended the Handbell Musicians of America Master Class (conducting) with Dr. William Payn, as well as nearly every Adult Festival/Conference since that first time in 1988. Fran lives in Burke, VA with her husband, Richard, and their two children. EMAIL
Fran Underwood: Messiah UMC, 6215 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA 22152, 703-569-9862
Peggy Brengle
Peggy Brengle began playing handbells in 1977 while organist at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Upon returning to her native Carroll County, Peggy and husband Kyler started the handbell choir at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mt. Airy. Peggy currently plays with the Wesley Carillon at Westminster United Methodist Church and is a member of the Westminster Ringers. Peggy is a graduate of Maryville College (Maryville, TN) with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She received a Master of Science degree and administration certification for Western Maryland College (McDaniel College). She is retired from teaching music and as a library media specialist for Carroll County Public Schools. Peggy regularly performs as an accompanist for schools and local and guest artists in the Westminster area. Her main focus is performing in four-hand piano duet concerts with Don Horneff wherever they can get an audience. Visit their website at www.4handpiano.com. EMAIL
Peggy Brengle: 685 Geneva Dr., Westminster, MD 21157, 410-848-4902
Debbie Henning
Debbie has been involved with handbells for over 35 years as both a ringer and a director. She currently directs the Homespun Ringers – a homeschool bell ensemble in Westminster and is the Director of Music at Gettysburg UMC in Gettysburg, PA where she directs the Chancel Choir, Praise Band, and 3 handbell choirs. In addition to teaching private piano lessons, Debbie loves to quilt, sew and cross stitch. Debbie serves as Treasurer and Educational Director for the Westminster Ringers, Inc. Debbie and her husband, Larry are the founding members of the Westminster Ringers, Inc. In the past Debbie has served 3 III as Maryland Sate Chair, Treasurer and Program Chair for the Spring Festivals. EMAIL
Linda Simms
Linda S. Simms is the founder and artistic director of Capital Ringers, Inc., a community handbell ensemble, based in Dover, Delaware. Linda earned her master’s degree in music education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She is a former Area 3 Chair and Delaware State Chair, who is currently serving as Area 3′s Delmarva State Chair and Education Liaison. Linda actively assists handbell directors and ringers by conducting massed ringing events and workshop and has taught and conducted at local, Area 1, Area 3, and National AGEHR events. After teaching music in public schools for 20 years, and serving churches in Maryland and Delaware, Linda teaches piano in her private studio. In addition, Linda shares her “free time” with husband, Jim, and son, Nathan. EMAIL
Linda Simms: 205 Carnoustie Road, Dover, DE 19904, 302-677-0187
Karen Allen
Karen Allen has rung handbells for 11 years at SAYSF Bible Church in southern Maryland. She was a founding member of Pax River Ringers, a southern MD community handbell group which existed from 2006-2010, and is currently a member of SAYSF ensemble, a 5-member, 4-octave ensemble. Bass bells are her favorites! She currently teaches 2 beginning ringers on a weekly basis. Her hobbies are horse riding, collecting records (LPs), reading, and traveling. EMAIL
Laura Shelton
Bio coming soon. EMAIL
Marilyn Reese
Marilyn has been ringing/directing handbells for 28 years. While living in Manassas, VA, in the early 1980′s, her organ teacher convinced her to “try” handbells. It was love at first rehearsal! When the handbell director position became vacant, Marilyn was asked to take over and “just count.” The church said they would pay for her to attend the National Director’s Seminar in Crystal City, VA, the next week. This was the beginning of a long association with Handbell Musicians of America and the many opportunities to learn from handbell professionals and make wonderful friends. She has directed children, teen, and adult handbell choirs in Manassas, VA, and Raleigh, NC, including a concert handbell choir in Raleigh. Now she is directing a senior citizen’s handbell choir of six ringers who do not read a note of music; but are her most enthusiastic choir ever. She is one of three cofounders of Capital Area Handbell Festival in Raleigh, an annual event since 1989 (21 years). Marilyn is retired from American Airlines, but still works as a Media Assistant at an elementary school in Raleigh, a position she has held for 17 years. In her spare time, she likes to travel (her father and husband were both in the Air Force), garden, knit, sew, crochet, X-stitch, spin and weave yarn, read, go on cruises, and do whatever fun and interesting things life brings. Marilyn’s family includes her husband of 42 years, two sons and their wives, two grandsons, and beagle dog, Lucy. EMAIL
Marilyn Reese: 6400 Valley Estates Dr., Raleigh, NC 27612
Jerry Hill
Jerry Hill is the handbell director at First Baptist Church Alexandria, Virginia where he oversees the handbell ministry and directs the Adoration Ringers and children handbell choirs. He is also the music director at Christ Episcopal School in Rockville, Maryland where he directs four hand chimes choirs. Jerry earned his master’s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has taught in both private and public schools for over 25 years as well as served on several church staffs. In 2009 Jerry represented the National Association for Music Education on a cultural exchange program to China. His choirs have performed on national television, regional conferences and recently performed at the National Cathedral. He is a former Area 3 District Chair for Northern Virginia. EMAIL
Michael Glasgow
Michael J. Glasgow is originally from Michigan. He holds B.A. degrees in music theory/composition, and in journalism; as well as a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin as the program’s first double-emphasis student, in both choral and handbell music. In addition to many professional affiliations and his full-time position as the Minister of Music at North Raleigh UMC (Raleigh, NC), Michael serves as Bass Section Leader for the North Carolina Master Chorale, the Choral Conductor for the Tar River Orchestra & Chorus, and the Music Director for the Oakwood Waits. He is a dynamic, energizing conductor who connects well with people and music, and as such is sought after for conducting engagements throughout the country. As a composer, Michael keeps busy with commissions and his own projects, and he strives to creatively advance the art of handbell ringing. He was awarded a first prize in the 2006 Soundprint Productions Composition Contest for his original jazz handbell piece, Celerity; as well as first prize in the 2007 Bells of the Sound “Three Ring Circus” Composition Contest for Bumping Noses. His most recent contest win is for Welcome the King, an SATB carol accompanied by solo viola, created for the 2009 VocalEssence “Welcome Christmas” composition contest. Michael is proud to be an integral part in the development of new handbell events, having conducted the first three annual Anthornis events for advanced ringers in Minneapolis in 2008 – 2010. He also serves as the Editor for the Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 newsletter, The Bell-O-Gram, and is a member of ASCAP, Mensa, and the American Composers Forum. Additional information and samples of Michael’s work may be found at www.michaeljglasgow.com. EMAIL
Michael Glasgow: 919-845-0303
Kath Wissinger
Director, clinician, teacher, composer, ringer – Kath Wissinger loves all aspects of handbell ringing. This is her third term on the Area 3 Board – the first 2 as Secretary. She directs the teen ensemble “Spectrum” at Massanutten Presbyterian Church in Penn Laird, Va., and teaches 2 music classes (using bells and chimes) for 4th-8th grades as well as K-3 music at Redeemer Classical School in Harrisonburg, Va. She has taught and directed at local, regional, area and national events – for all Levels and ages. Kath has over 50 pieces in print – including a wide variety of ensembles and full choir pieces, some for double choirs, some with instruments, and a few original hymns accompanied by bells. She enjoys writing commissions for special occasions and pedagogical pieces that teach specific skills while still being musical. A former National Park Service Ranger, commissioned handweaver and Elder Hostel teacher, Kath currently teaches piano in her home studio in the Shenandoah Valley. Her website is: www.kathwissinger.wetpaint.com/. EMAIL
Kathleen L. Wissinger: 1050 Cemetery Rd., McGaheysville, VA 22840, 540-289-6973
Melissa Nobile
Melissa Nobile has been involved with handbell ringing and directing for over 20 years including the creation of a successful handbell program in Area 1 in 1995. She is currently a member of the Emmanuel Church handbell choir in Delaplane Virginia, and the director of the Warrenton UMC Chapel Bells. When Melissa isn’t busy with handbells, she is wife to Marc, mom to Matt and Emma, co-chair of the Middle School PTO, a member of the church vestry, and freshman representative for the high school band parent association, family photographer, and a fervent scrapbooking aficionado. EMAIL
Melissa Nobile: 20131 Stillhouse Rd., Delaplane, VA 20144, 540-364-3699
Gregg Bogovich
Bio coming soon. EMAIL
Laura Blauch
Laura Blauch started playing handbells in 1978, in her hometown of Emmaus, PA. Laura continued to ring after moving to Maryland, and in 2002, she was asked to form and direct a new handbell choir, as her church had received a memorial gift to purchase a new set of handbells. Laura began attending workshops and festivals, and quickly discovered that she loves directing as much as ringing! Laura moved to NC in 2006, and currently directs the Chancel Bells and sings in various choirs at Davidson United Methodist Church in Davidson, NC. Laura has a B.A. in Sacred Music (voice) from Lebanon Valley College and a Masters of General Administration from University of Maryland University College. She is a Senior Financial Analyst with HP. Laura is married to Dave, a Professor of Chemistry at Davidson College and bass ringer in Laura’s bell choir, has 2 wonderful children, Tim and Katie, 4 cats, and in her spare time, loves to play tennis. EMAIL
Ruella M. Barnes
Ruella Barnes spent many years living in Europe and the Far East during her husband’s Air Force career before settling in Maryland. She has worked in several fields over the years to include tour and travel guide, health claims technical advisor and church secretary. She has been ringing with the Jubilate Bronze of Community United Methodist Church in Crofton, MD since its inception in 1992. In 2007, Ruella attended her first Area III Festival in Ocean City as a member of Jubilate Bronze. Ruella has been married to John for 45 years, has 2 children, 6 grandchildren and 2 cats. She is also passionate about Stephen Ministry, prison ministry and mission work in Guatemala.. EMAIL
Linda Lamb
Linda Lamb has been involved with handbells since 1992, as director, composer, and sometime ringer. She is the handbell director at Lexington Park Baptist Church, Lexington Park, Maryland, where she directs one adult choir, one youth quartet, and one youth choir. She is also a founding member of the Pax River Ringers, a community group in Southern Maryland, and the founder and list owner of the Frustrated Friends of Finale (FFFinale), an internet mailing list for handbell composers and arrangers who use the Finale music program. As a composer and arranger, she has numerous handbell titles in print. She graduated from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, with a B. A. in sociology, and from Concordia University in Wisconsin with a Master of Church Music (emphasis in handbells). She and her husband Ken are the proud parents of two grown children and two grandchildren. EMAIL
Andy Siegel
Andy Siegel was born and raised in Dover, DE. He joined the U. S. Navy after high school and retired as a Chief Petty Officer after 21 years of service in nuclear submarines. He is currently employed with the City of Dover as a network administrator. In addition to ringing with Capital Ringers, he plays trumpet in the Dover Symphony Orchestra. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and they have five wonderful children. EMAIL
Andy Siegel: 995 Chestnut Grove Rd., Dover, DE 19904, 302-242-2308
Lawrence Stewart
Lawrence maintains the Area 3 Web site and is always looking for suggestions to improve or enhance the site’s role in helping Area 3 achieve its mission. He not only enjoys visual design, he also enjoys the musical arts, singing and playing handbells, preferably below C5. 
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