Meet Our Ringers
Ringer Bios
Tracey Bowers, 2003I started ringing bells 35 years ago in 5th grade. I really started to enjoy the art of ringing handbells when I joined the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University, WI. As a charter member of MHE, I am glad to be able to keep my passion of ringing active. I am also honored to be leading this wonderful group of ringers as the President. I am the Accounting Manager at a private company in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. I enjoy scrapbooking, reading or riding bike in my spare time. I also enjoy spending time traveling or even just relaxing around the house with my husband, Brad.
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Linda Carlson, 2003I have been ringing bells on and off for over 30 years. I live in Wauwatosa with my husband, Mark, and our four children ages 19-25, who are all out of the house now. Very different for sure! Mark and I own 4 Sport Clips Haircuts located in Germantown, Pewaukee, Brookfield and West Allis. Our family has also enjoyed hosting AFS exchange students (9 of them!) and have transitioned to hosting German Interns at the Milwaukee German Immersion School. I guess we don't like an empty ouse! Being a charter member of MHE, I thoroughly enjoy this outlet for my love of music!
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Lydia Clough, 2018I am one of the newest ringers to MHE, but I've been ringing since I was a kid and it has always been a great way for me to play with great groups of people and have some fun! I also direct the Community United Methodist Church of Cedarburg Handbell Ensemble and am currently in my senior year of my undergrad in Music Education at UW - Milwaukee. I am so grateful to be in an ensemble that will help me grow and expand my knowledge of bell ringing and I hope I can learn some techniques to help with my own directing.
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Suzanne Hibbard, 2003I have been involved in handbells for over twenty years as a ringer, director, teacher, clinician, sales rep and lover of bells. I am a charter member of MHE and the current Director of Music at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Franklin where I play for services and direct five choirs. I am also an Activity Director at Heritage Place, a senior apartment complex in Brookfield, where I recently started a senior chime choir. I reside in Franklin with my husband Steve, also a musician, and we are blessed with four children.
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Jana Larson, 2011I began ringing handbells in fourth grade and haven't stopped. After playing and conducting bells as a student at St. Olaf College, I moved to Milwaukee in 2008 where I went to Concordia University Wisconsin and earned a Masters of Church Music in, what else? Handbells! I am a banker by day and also the handbell director at Fox Point Lutheran Church. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring all the city has to offer, cheering on the Brewers, and hanging out with my dog, Luther.
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Kristine Morano, 2006I started playing handbells in 1994 with the handbell choir at St. John's Lutheran Church in Port Washington. While attending Concordia University for music education, I was a five-year member of the Alleluia Ringers. I now live in Fredonia and enjoy spending time with my husband, Tom, daughter, Mikayla, and son, Tyler.
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Amy Mrosko, 2014I fell in love with handbells during my time with the Alleluia Ringers as a student at CUW and have since enjoyed directing choirs at different churches. I'm thrilled to be back in the Milwaukee area and to have the chance to ring with such a fabulous choir! My time stays filled homeschooling five fabulous kids.
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Stacey Nordmeyer, 2015I have loved handbells for as long as I can remember and am thrilled to be a part of MHE! I learned to ring in 5th grade, rang all through high school, and toured with my choir both my junior and senior years. After that, I began solo ringing and working with the chime choir at my church. Now, I direct one of the adult bell choirs at Unity Lutheran Church in Brookfield, where I’m also active in the music ministry, and I’m the Church Choral Editor for Hal Leonard Corporation. I’m married to Kevin, mom to Ryan, and in my spare time I enjoy traveling, reading, hiking, geo-caching and counted cross-stitch.
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Carl Reyes, 2011I am the Director of Liturgy and Music at St. Stephen Church, Oak Creek, where I direct vocal and handbell programs. A former music teacher, I have taught all ages in schools and community parks and recreation programs. A transplant from Michigan after having performed with 'Classical Bells' of Detroit for ten years, I've enjoyed ringing with MHE and as a solo handbell performer for over 30 years. A resident of Bay View, I love gardening at home, church and for MKE Parks and Rec. as well as walking my dog, Buster, in my neighborhood. In 2013, my nine siblings and I traveled to Malta to discover our roots.
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Christina Rios, 2019
I have been ringing bells for almost 30 years now. I started with a group called Embellishments in the 5th grade. We performed and recorded for an annual Indianapolis tradition Hoosier Holidays. Handbells was my first true love in music. I have played in 2 school choirs, 4 different church choirs, a community choir and various small ensembles. After falling in love with handbells, I started with more instruments beginning with clarinet and bass clarinet. When I am not having fun with music, I am probably doing something involving my career which is culinary arts. I am a supervisor with Advocate Aurora Healthcare in their food and nutrition services and I also have a small group called Food Nerdz where we travel around and critique restaurants just for fun. I am super excited to join the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble this year and can't wait to see what the year brings.
Jennifer Scheler,
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Allison Schweitzer, 2019 |
Rachel Strand, 2006I joined MHE shortly after graduating from Concordia University of Wisconsin where I rang with the Alleluia Ringers for four years. I currently work at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Mequon as their church administrator and handbell director. My husband, Carl, and I are caretakers on the farm where we reside with our two children, Silas and Leah. Besides music, I enjoy photography, animals, gardening, organizing, candy crush and spending time with family and friends.
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Katie Wierer, 2008I began playing handbells in grade school and became hooked when I had the privilege of playing with the Alleluia Ringers at CUW. After playing with the Madison Area Concert Handbells while away at school, I returned home to Milwaukee and began working at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as a pharmacist. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Jay, and children, Ellie, Josie and Theo, reading and playing with our two pet rabbits.
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Former Ringers
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* Founding Member
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^ Current Member
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2003-2004Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Lauren Delancy * Jarrod (JR) Fenner * Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Iris Jastram * Shelley Lund * Michael Moeder * Jennifer Scheler *^ Karen Stabelfeldt * Kimberly Williams * |
2004-2005Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Lauren Delancy * Patrick Delancy Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Iris Jastram * Shelley Lund * Jennifer Scheler *^ Karen Stabelfeldt * Melodee Vogt Kimberly Williams * |
2005-2006Allison Bessert
Karla Bessert * Tracey Bowers *^ Karen Canapa Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Jennifer Scheler *^ Karen Stabelfeldt * Melodee Vogt |
2006-2007Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Erin Junger Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Melodee Vogt |
2007-2008Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Erin Junger Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Melodee Vogt |
2008-2009Beth Bawden
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Michael Grosnick Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Erin Junger Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2009-2010Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Michael Grosnick Shannon Grosnick Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2010-2011Ken Blake
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Laura Ellwein Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Michael Grosnick Suzanne Hibbard *^ Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Joshua Moeller Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2011-2012Ken Blake
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Penny Kindraka Jana Larson ^ Kristine Morano ^ Carl Reyes ^ Anne Reynolds Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2012-2014Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson *^ Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Penny Kindraka Jana Larson ^ Jason Lewerenz Joshua Moeller Kristine Morano ^ Carl Reyes ^ Anne Reynolds Kelli Stenklyft Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ Gwen Wiethorn 2018-2020Tracey Bowers *
Linda Carlson * Lydia Clough Kaethe Grabenhofer * Suzanne Hubbard * Jana Larson Jennifer Scheler * Kristine Morano Amy Mrosko Stacey Nordmeyer Carl Reyes Christina Rios Allison Schweitzer Kelli Stenklyft Rachel Strand Katie Wierer |
2014-2016Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson*^ Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Joshua Kramer Jana Larson ^ Jason Lewerenz Jennifer Scheler *^ Joshua Moeller Kristine Morano ^ Amy Mrosko ^ Stacey Nordmeyer ^ Carl Reyes ^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ Heide Young |
2016-2018Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson *^ Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Jamie Haack Suzanne Hubbard *^ Jana Larson ^ Jason Lewerenz Jennifer Scheler *^ Joshua Moeller Kristine Morano ^ Amy Mrosko ^ Stacey Nordmeyer ^ Carl Reyes ^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ Heide Young |