Susan Finnigan has been Director of Handbell Ministries at Westlake United
Methodist Church in Austin for twelve years. She directs four handbell choirs that
ring on five octaves of handbells and three octaves of handchimes. Prior to
moving to Austin, she worked at several churches in the Houston area. She has
one handbell composition published by Choristers Guild. She received her
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Houston, but is
much more active as a pianist in the Austin area. She is married and has four
sons.
Wilson
Van Tine,
Treasurer
treasurer@areaix.org
Wilson Van Tine is an Audit Consultant for ConocoPhillips where he travels the world auditing ConocoPhillips’ operations. Wilson is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor. He holds both a bachelors and a masters in Accounting. Wilson also serves as the Treasurer for the Greater Houston Handbell Association.
Wilson is a former member of the Houston Bronze Ensemble. He currently resides in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and is a member of the First United Methodist Church there. He rings in the adult handbell choir, sings in the choir, rings with a small ensemble, and solo rings at the church.
Wilson’s hobbies are traveling, going to movies, attending musicals, and working out.
Stephanie
Rhoades, Past Chair
4300 West Park Boulevard
Plano, TX 75093
972-596-6233 x145
pastchair@areaix.org
Stephanie Rhoades was named conductor of Concert Bells of Fort Worth in
February, 2003. In May 2003, she began as Director of Children's Music at Grace
Presbyterian Church in Plano, Texas after serving for over six years as Director
of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church, Coppell. During her tenure
at FUMC, she directed multiple vocal and handbell choirs and supervised a large
and varied music ministry. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in music from
Yale University and Master of Sacred Music degree from Perkins School of
Theology at Southern Methodist University.
The daughter of two musicians, Stephanie began playing
violin and trumpet at a young age, has been active in handbell ringing for over
twenty years (including solo/ensemble ringing), was a member of the Dallas
Handbell Ensemble, and Interim Director of the Concert Bells of Forth Worth
(Christmas 2000). Her experience includes directing children's, youth, and adult
handbell choirs and she is currently the President of the Dallas Chapter of
Choristers Guild. During the last five years she has served as President of the
Greater Dallas Handbell Association and as a local clinician in handbells and
children's music.
Stephanie lives in Dallas.
Sheryl
Cory, Education Coordinator
c/o Asbury United Methodist Church
6767 S. Mingo Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74133
918-392-1199 ext.473
education@areaix.org
Sheryl Cory, a.k.a. "Bob", has been Music Associate at Asbury
United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma since 1996, where she directs handbells,
accompanies choirs, and facilitates worship services as Director and Look Development Lead.
She rings in a church and a community handbell choir, and is also an accomplished solo ringer.
Sheryl has served as local liaison for Area IX and National Young Ringers Festivals,
led workshops at the Adult National Festival and other venues, and has helped organize
and coordinate TulsaFest for several years. She has served Area IX as Treasurer for two terms
and is currently Education Coordinator for the Area. She continues to serve as Treasurer for
the Tulsa Area Handbell Association. In addition to her music job, Sheryl serves as the
Wedding Coordinator at Asbury, and in her former life she worked in the accounting field
in the oil and gas industry and at a local philanthropic foundation.
Ruth Seiwell, Membership Chair
58 Hollyhock Court
Lake Jackson, TX
979-236-4735
membership@areaix.org
Ruth Seiwell is the Practice Manager for
Parking Way Pediatrics, a pediatric medical group. She also serves as the
Director of Handbells at First United Methodist Church in Lake Jackson Texas.
She is a ringing member of the Houston Bronze Ensemble and serves as Treasurer
of the Board of Directors for the organization. Ruth is currently the President
of the Board of Directors for the Greater Houston Handbell Association and is
the chair for FebFest for Bells 2007, a position she has filled several times.
Ruth also serves on the Board of Directors and as the Handbell Camp Director for
Texas Conference Choir Clinic for music and worship arts.
Pam Adams, Publications
5541 Stoney Glen
Mesquite, TX 75150
214-938-5412 (cell)
214-631-0925 (x248) (work)
publications@areaix.org
Pam Adams has been ringing handbells since 1989 at First United Methodist Church - Richardson (TX),
where she remained an active ringer until the spring of 2007. While pursuing her BBA in Marketing
at Baylor University, she rang with the Baylor University Handbell Ensemble.
She currently rings with Concert Bells of Fort Worth and Brookhaven Handbell Ensemble.
Pam is employed for a jewelry manufacturer/wholesaler as an Account Specialist and
resides with her family in Mesquite, TX.
Mark Usrey,
Oklahoma Representative
29401 East 70th Street
Broken Arrow, OK 74014
918-905-1705
oklarep@areaix.org
Mark Usrey has been involved with handbells for 25 years. He currently
directs two handbell choirs (one adult and one youth) and rings in one at St.
Stephens UMC in Broken Arrow, OK. His choirs have performed at various regional
festivals and local organizations over the years. He currently serves on the
TulsaFest organizing committee. He has served as president of the Board of
Directors of Tulsa Festival Ringers, Inc and was a long-time ringer (6 years) in
the Tulsa Festival Ringers, a community handbell choir. In joining the Board of
Area IX, Mark will bring to bear his experience in committee work though all the
administrative committee work he has done with the United Methodist Church (at
both the local church and conference levels) and his years of experience as
Treasurer and Committee Member for Pack 413 (65 cub scouts).
Mark is a 1989 graduate of New Mexico State University
with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He is currently employed full time by
Applied Software Solutions, LLC as a Systems Architect and Programmer. Mark, his
wife Michele, and their four children currently reside in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
where they are avid soccer/baseball/basketball players and fans and enjoy
spending the weekends at the lake with family and friends.
Jean Harden, North Texas Representative
1717 Broadway
Denton, TX 76201
940-565-2860
ntexrep@areaix.org
Jean Harden is a charter member and Treasurer of Concert Bells of Fort
Worth, which was formed in the fall of 1998, received recognition of 501(c)(3)
status in 1999, and was confirmed as a publicly supported organization in 2003.
She taught classes on the financial aspects of community handbell ensembles at
the Area IX Festival Conference in 2000, Pinnacle 2002, and Pinnacle 2004. Jean
directs handbells at her church in Denton, Texas. Before coming to Texas in
1994, Jean was active as a music librarian and musicologist and worked at
Cornell University and the Eastman School of Music. She moved to this area to
take her current position as a music librarian at the University of North Texas.
Michelle Tejada, South Texas Representative
1105 Iris Crescent Drive
Floresville, TX 78114
830-393-7436
stexrep@areaix.org
Michelle Tejada is the Area IX South Texas Rep. Prior to this
position, Michelle served as Area IX Membership Chair and Education Coordinator. She began ringing in 1981
and has performed with various handbell choirs and ensembles. In addition,
Michelle has performed as a soloist. Michelle was the founder of Bell Power, a
special needs handbell choir, and served as their first director. She also
directed a youth handbell choir. Michelle was a member of the West Texas
Handbell Association Coordinating Committee from 1995-2002, serving as Treasurer
from 1996-2002 and festival coordinator in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Michelle is
currently the Handbell Director at Floresville United Methodist Church in
Floresville, Texas.
Michelle also works part-time as an audiologist and
full-time wife and mother.
Bob Avant, Chair
Susan Finnigan,
Secretary