Meet L.A. Bronze

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Rachel was introduced to handbells at a very young age watching her mother play handbells in the church choir.  She got her turn to start playing in her elementary school choir while in the fourth grade and has enjoyed every opportunity to perform in large choirs, small ensembles, and as a soloist.  Her real-world job is a high school mathematics teacher.  Rachel is thrilled to return to playing handbells after taking some time off to care for her husband and two girls.

Jackie Beery has worked as a choir director, vocalist, and handbell ringer in churches and musical ensembles all around Southern California including Director of Music for Lakewood First UMC and Artistic Director of the Bellflower Civic Chorus. She is an accomplished and recorded vocalist and steel drum (pan) player. When Jackie is not performing, she is the National Director of Learning for Carelon Health and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Long Beach Youth Chorus.

Robyn received her musical training from Westminster Choir College, UC Irvine, and Columbia University. She has sung in operas and concerts throughout the United States and Europe and spent two decades preparing college vocal majors for the stage and the classroom. Robyn started playing handbells when there was a need at her church job and is thrilled to be stretching herself musically with LA Bronze. By day, Robyn builds the music program at Rosary Academy by teaching choir, orchestra, songwriting, and musical theater.