L.A. BRONZE

Jeff began ringing handbells in the 6th grade while attending Claremont UCC. He has been ringing almost continuously since 1983. Jeffrey was introduced to LA Bronze by Ruben Mendoza, his handbell director at Northridge UMC. He is currently employed as a paralegal at Baker McKenzie LLP

Linda is the “spark plug” behind L. A. Bronze and was the driving force behind its creation. She has been ringing since the late 1990s and is well-known throughout the country as an accomplished handbell soloist. She has played across the country and throughout Europe with tour groups and loves to teach others to play.

Steven discovered handbells in 1987 when a friend drafted him to play in their church's youth handbell choir in PA. Seven years later, he took a hiatus to move to California but joined the First United Methodist Church of Glendale’s handbell choirs in 1999 and he has been ringing ever since.

Scott began his handbell experience 30 years ago when he was the director of the Bells of Praise at Salem Lutheran Church in Whittier. He is a published arranger of handbell music and is currently the director of two handbell choirs at First United Methodist Church of Glendale.

Mark trained at Berklee College of Music as a guitarist, composer, and arranger.  He discovered handbells in 8th grade and has been playing ever since. He has been the Director of Music at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in North Hollywood for 15+ years, where he teaches middle-school handbells and conducts an adult handbell group.  When not parenting a Jedi Knight and a princess/witch, he also enjoys classic video games like Zelda.

Anna has been ringing handbells with the Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach since 2000. She also plays flute, and piano, and sings with the church’s choir. Anna is married and has two adult children. In her spare time, she manages two home businesses.

Carol was introduced to handbells in 1979 when her church organist heard about this “new” instrument and has never looked back.  She currently rings in 4 handbell choirs; 2 community groups and 2 church groups, and met her husband through playing bells. Together they have toured the US and Europe with handbell choirs.  By day Carol works in sales in the electronics industry.

Charvi began ringing handbells in 10th grade at her high school and hasn’t stopped since. She is currently a senior at UCLA, majoring in Human Biology & Society, minoring in Anthropology, and hoping to attend law school and become a public health attorney after she graduates.

Ja learned to play handbells around 2003 with the Handbell Carolers, a holiday group that rings and sings throughout SoCal. Much later, she learned proper table ringing at La Canada Presbyterian Church with Kemp Smeal. She then rang with Chicago Bronze for two years & is now enjoying ringing with LAB! Ja works as a flight attendant & sings in various cover bands, jazz, and holiday groups.

Jimmy is thrilled to join LA Bronze after a recent move from Houston, Texas to Southern California. In Houston, he was an active member of a community ensemble and played in several church handbell choirs.  Jimmy holds a doctorate in information systems from Nova Southeastern University and serves as an assistant professor and Executive Director of Academic Technologies at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.  He currently plays in the handbell choir at Palm Springs United Methodist Church.

Michelle began ringing in church during elementary Sunday School and continued through Glendale High School, serving as assistant director her senior year.  After majoring in music, she went into choral teaching as the choir program director for the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) at Hamilton HS.  She currently serves as Magnet Coordinator at AMPA, directing musicals and leading the vision of the program.  She is excited to be joining LAB this year.

Jena began playing handbells in 2nd grade at her church in Pennsylvania, and she has continued to ring throughout the years. She is a recent graduate of the Mannes School of Music in NYC and moved to LA to pursue her musical passion for the French horn.  She is grateful to be asked to join LA Bronze this year.  

Makena, BMus, CAGO (b. 1999) is a candidate for the Master of Music degree in organ performance at the USC Thornton School of Music. She serves as organist at Manhattan Beach Community Church, rings in LA Bronze handbell ensemble, and plays percussion for Peninsula Symphonic Winds. Outside of music, Makena enjoys snow skiing, studying foreign languages, and open-water swimming (the colder, the better).