Member Profile: Catherine Ciway

Catherine Ciway from Roselle IL, has been playing handbells since 5th grade. She is a recent graduate from Concordia University Wisconsin with a degree in both Public Relations and Business Communications. Catherine rang previously with the Alleluia Ringers, Concordia's touring handbell choir, under the direction of Dr. John Behnke. In her spare time she enjoys singing, reading and being with her family.

Christmas in September

Rehearsals for December concerts are underway! Here's a typical scene from Monday night's rehearsal.

Member Profile: Amy Calderone

Amy Calderone was introduced to Handbells when she was a senior in high school. She has been playing in bell choirs off and on ever since, playing across the country and in Europe. She has a BS in Psychology from Judson University and is now an admin for The Nielsen Company. Amy also enjoys reading, watching TV and hanging out with friends.

New Musical Director!

Chicago Bronze is pleased to introduce our new Musical Director: Andrea Handley.

Andrea Handley lives in Evanston, and has been directing handbells since 1983. She holds an undergraduate degree in piano from the Indiana University School of Music, and a graduate degree in organ from the American Conservatory of Music. As Director of Music and Worship at the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, IL, she directed a graded handbell choir program which grew to six choirs over a span of a few years, playing two sets of handbells (one seven octaves) and two sets of handchimes. More recently, she directed the handbell program at Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, TX. She is a published handbell composer and has written several articles for Overtones magazine.

Andrea’s husband, David, is a Presbyterian pastor, and she has three grown children – a recent seminary graduate, a professional cellist, and a daycare worker. She’s thrilled to be back “home” in the Chicago area, and more thrilled to have the opportunity to direct the Chicago Bronze!

Thanks to all of the applications who applied to the position. We were honored by your presence and interest.

Handbell Musicians of America

Chicago Bronze is a proud member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

Last week, the AGEHR announced that they would change their name to the Handbell Musicians of America, "to recognize ourselves as musicians to be taken seriously by the music world at large."

Please join us in welcoming the new HMA.

Syncopated Clock

One of our newest pieces which you can hear in our concert series next week is Leroy Anderson's Syncopated Clock.

Leroy Anderson is probably most famous as the composer of the Winter favorite Sleigh Ride, but many people are familiar with Syncopated Clock even if they don't know the name of the song. In the 1950's CBS introduced the "Late Show," thinking maybe Americans would stay up a little later to watch more television - crazy, right? The producers chose Syncopated Clock as the theme music of the show, and continued to use it for the next 25 years of late-night television, leaving us with a generation of Americans who can probably hum the tune, but few who could name its title or author.

For more information about Leroy Anderson, visit his web site, leroyanderson.com. Oh, and it's /le-ROY/, not /LEE-roy/.

Member Profile: Denise Kinsey

Denise Kinsey has been a handbell ringer for 17 years. She also plays piano and clarinet. She is a music teacher in Schaumburg District 54 where she teaches junior high students General Music and Chorus. Denise has directed musicals, vocal choirs, and handbell/handchime choirs for various groups from 1st grade through adult in schools and in churches. Denise loves spending time with her two children, Chris and Cate, where they are always in baseball, basketball, football, cheerleading, and soccer!