Who are Campanillas?

Roy (Director) has been ringing, directing, and teaching handbells for over thirty years. He has directed numerous handbell choirs with ringers of all ages. In one church he directed six handbell choirs. His musical background includes over 50 years as a church musician playing organ, piano, and synthesizer. He has done work at the Masters level in Organ Performance under such teachers as the late Dr. David N. Johnson and Professor Emeritus Robert Clark at Arizona State University. In addition to directing and accompanying many church choirs, he has been accompanist for several community choruses. He is currently Director of Music at Congregational Church of the Valley in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has also taught piano and organ. In his day job, Roy works as a Project Manager for IBM. His work experience includes working for large companies like Motorola and American Express. He is happily married to his wife Jennie. Between them they have four wonderful children and eleven adorable grandchildren.

Jennie has been ringing handbells for 27 years. She loved handbells so much that she had to marry the director of choir. Now married 24 years and 11 grandchildren later, she is still ringing. She is a charter member of Campanillas. Jennie has been active in the leadership of AGEHR in Arizona, serving as State Chair for 6 years and secretary treasurer for four, organizing regional and local events as well as teaching classes at various educational events. She and Roy have attended many national handbell events across the country and overseas as well; having attended the International Symposium in Australia in 2006 and in Japan in 2010. Jennie has been teaching for 26 years in Scottsdale and recently retired as the Culinary Arts instructor at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale where she taught for 17 years. In her nearly non-existent free time she is an avid reader, loves to tend her roses, and enjoys time with husband, Roy, and their Golden Retrievers, Belle and Sophie.

Cathy, born and raised in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, started playing handbells in 1993 at Slatersville Congregational Church where her mother directed the handbell choir. She took a handbell hiatus during college and graduate school, but was excited to start playing again with Campanillas when she moved to Phoenix in 2009. Cathy currently works at the Biodesign Institute at ASU as the Scientific Liaison for a plasmid repository, and in her spare time enjoy doing projects around the house, knitting, or reading.

Elizabeth started ringing handbells with her church in 1998 and has been ringing with Campanillas del Sol since November 2000. She has been involved in music most of her life and still plays Oboe with a community band in Chandler. Elizabeth also plays the English Horn, Clarinet, Flute, and Piccolo. Outside of music, she is happily married and a mother of four. In her professional career, she works for Norwegian Cruise Line providing IT Support at their Reservations Call Center.

Heather has been ringing handbells for fifteen years, and has been playing with Campanillas del Sol for for six. When she's not ringing bells, she teaches band in the Glendale Elementary School District and spends time with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Allison

Jeanne is a retired vocal music teacher, piano accompanist for Orpheus Emeritus Men's Chorus, and Chorus Director for McDowell Village Retirement apartments.  She volunteers at Scottsdale Osborn Hospital and is active in Presbyterian Women at Valley Presbyterian church. She is also busy keeping up with  9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  Jeanne started playing bells in 1974 and LOVES it!

Kristen has been playing handbells for over ten years. She started ringing at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, continued at Northern Arizona University in the Harold M. Harter Memorial Handbell Choir. She joined Campanillas del Sol for their 2009 and 2010 season and is completely addicted! Kristen also sings with the Phoenix Symphony Chorus and directs the choirs at Chaparral High School and West Congregational Church. Outside her musical life, Kristen is a member of the Desert Dolls Roller Derby League (which will likely explain any bumps and bruises she may have on concert days)

Lori has been ringing handbells for about 25 years.  She started ringing in a church choir, then joined a community choir while in highschool, and was a charter member of  The Northern Arizona University Harter Memorial Handbell Choir.  She has been a member of Campanillas Del Sol for 4 years and still can't seem to ever get enough of handbells!  It's a joy to ring in this choir and a blessing for me personally to share with others my passion for handbells. Lori is currently working on becoming an RN and will graduate in May of 2011. 

Nando started ringing in 2004 with the Harold M. Harter Memorial Handbell Choir at Northern Arizona University, and rang there until his graduation in 2008. He enlisted in the ranks of Campanillas del Sol in 2009. Currently, Nando works at PayPal in Chandler in the Credit Operations department. In his spare time, he loves to travel and experience new things. When not exploring the world, Nando enjoys a good run, but not as much as he enjoys a good book!.

Sarah has been ringing handbells for about 10 years. she was a music teacher for 3 years, and is currently going back to school to teach high school math.

Steve started ringing handbells at the age of 15, primarily with treble bells and soon learned to ring old style four-in-hand (handles interlocked).  As he grew older he decided to ring Bass bells and found out that he enjoyed them much more.  He is now in his 10th year of performance and teaching with Campanillas del Sol.  He has had the honor of working with many directors, groups and clinicians from across the country at festivals and workshops in an effort to increase his ringing knowledge.  He is available to any choir in need of help with Bass Bell ringing techniques.  Please contact the choir for more information. Steve is employed by Honeywell as a Quality Assurance Inspector and has worked there for almost 13 years.