Area III Officer Profile

Festival Chair

Charm Peterman

Guided by an enthusiastic new Minister of Music and the discovery of handbells in a closet of First UMC Clovis, NM in 1979, Charm began her joyous journey into the handbell ministry. Since then she has formed and directed over 60 handbell choirs and given workshops in Belgium, England, Germany, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, and Virginia. She founded the European Handbell Festivals in 1985 for American military stationed overseas and the European Guild (Tintinnabulum Europa) in 1989. She is a workshop clinician, massed ringing conductor, solo handbell ringer, Handbell Sales Representative for Schulmerich Bells, directs the Monumental Ringers at Monumental UMC, Portsmouth, VA., and rings in Tapestry, a community handbell quartet that focuses on daytime ministry and outreach.

While stationed in the U.K., Charm was an active member of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain (HRGB). She gave clinics, participated with her choirs in HRGB rallies, hosted and directed a regional rally, and was on the committee for the 1988 Exeter International Handbell Symposium. Her handbell choir, the Liberty Belles, performed for her majesties, Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother at their Sandringham Estate. Her choirs have appeared several times on Armed Forces Network (AFN) in the U.K., Europe and the United States.

A Bachelor of Music (Secondary Instrumental Music) from DePauw University, a Master's in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State University, and over twenty years working with handbells give Charm a strong foundation for performing and teaching this instrument. Charm is a member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR). She is the Festival Chair for the Area III 2005 Spring Festivals (her fourth year), and she has instructed in Adult and Youth Festival Conferences and Directors’ Seminars.

With each move, the Lord has provided bells and a ministry that needed to be filled. With the talent and materials supplied by the Lord, Charm has worked with bells to praise God and share His love by teaching others to use their God-given talents through this very special ministry.

Charm Peterman
113 Melvins End
Yorktown, VA. 23693
757-766-8658
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