Director, Al Reese
Al Reese has served as the Musical Director of the Virginia Handbell Consort since January 2008. Al is a retired Army musician, serving over twenty-one years in various Army bands as a trumpet player.
Al has participated in numerous Handbell Musicians of America Festivals and Conferences where he has rung in Advanced Performance and All-Star choirs, and was selected to for the Raleigh Ringers’ Virtuoso in 2019 and 2022.
He has served as a clinician and Massed Conductor at local, Area 3 and National events and was selected as Associate Conductor for Distinctly Bronze East in 2015. He is accredited to teach Conducting and Music Theory for the Handbell Musicians of America Certification program, in which he has attained Level 3 Certification.
Al is a published composer and holds a Master of Church Music Degree with concentration in Handbells from Concordia University. He is currently an Instructor in the Music Department of Norfolk State University and is the Music Director/Organist at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, VA.
Mary Allsbrook
Music is a big part of Mary's life. She took piano lessons from the second grade through 8th grade, sang with her 5th and 6th-grade chorus, and learned to play the flute in 7th grade. Mary learned how to play handbells at the base chapel in Honolulu and continued playing handbells with Baylake United Methodist Church and flute with Cox High School in Virginia Beach. At Penn State Mary joined the University Choir her Junior year and became a member of the Chamber Choir her Senior year. After graduation, Mary returned to Virginia Beach where she again joined the church chancel choir and handbell choir at Baylake United Methodist and continues to this day. Mary is a charter member of the VHC, but had to step away after 4 years after the birth of her daughter. She has rejoined the VHC this season and is happy to be back. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband of 29 years and is a retired Special Education teacher of 32 years. Mary currently works for a small business as the Project Manager. Her daughter is now a Virginia Tech alumni and is applying to schools to become a veterinarian.
Linda Anderson
Linda Anderson started playing piano in elementary school and played clarinet for many years. She has been playing handbells 5 years with the Saint Luke’s United Methodist Church handbell choir in Yorktown. She has been retired from NASA Langley for 4 years and enjoys reading, Lifelong Learning Society courses, painting, yoga, Bible study, book clubs, and discussing almost anything except sports. She lives in Yorktown with her husband, son and two Labrador Retrievers.
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Macy Coffey
Macy was born and raised in Lexington VA. She married a Lexington native, Dan Coffey, and together raised two sons, Brittigan and Talmadge, both currently living in Montana. Macy grew up in the Lexington Presbyterian Church and rang handbells with the Lam Handbell Choir for 32 years. After 33+ years working at Washington and Lee University, Macy and her husband have retired to Cape Charles VA. Macy enjoys time with her husband and dogs, taking walks, sea glass hunting, and loves to cook. Most of all, Macy enjoys a simple life with simple pleasures. She is low maintenance with easy upkeep.
Lynn Dash
Having been involved in music since childhood, Lynn has sung in a variety of groups, and played flute in bands, orchestras, and other community groups across the country. She began ringing bells at Chestnut Memorial UMC in 1990 and joined VHC in 2004. While raising three sons, Lynn and her husband Ernie moved frequently, thanks to his 27-year Air Force meteorology career. They are Virginians by choice and new Williamsburg residents, having recently moved from Yorktown where they lived for 30 years. Their family has expanded to include three daughters-in-law, six grandsons, and one granddaughter. Lynn has many interests including quilting, knitting, reading, and beach combing. In addition to VHC, Lynn is a member of Tapestry Handbell Quartet.
Joyce Easter
Joyce Easter joined VHC in January 2002. Joyce's musical interests began in the fifth grade with the flute. She added the oboe in junior high school, bassoon in high school, and began solo ringing and directing during graduate school. Joyce holds a doctoral degree in Biochemistry and is a Chemistry Professor at Virginia Wesleyan College. Joyce is a New Jersey native, but has moved around the country living in New York, North Carolina, and Illinois before settling down in Virginia Beach with her husband Loran.
Deana Laney
Deana started ringing with VHC in 2006. She began her musical journey with piano at age seven and has been ringing handbells since 1976. She previously directed handbell choirs at Trinity Lutheran Church in Newport News and is also a solo ringer. Deana is the mother of three children and grandmother of twelve, and spent her days for over twenty eight years at True Value Hardware in Grafton. The store recently was purchased by Ace Hardware and Deana is now its manager. At other times you can find Deana curled up with a good book!
Tammera Missel
Tammera Missel has always loved music. She started playing piano as a young girl and picked up the clarinet in the 6th grade (only because the band director would not let her start on oboe!). She finally switched to oboe in the 7th grade and continued through her junior year of college, while also playing baritone in marching band. She first started ringing handchimes in middle school at FUMC Kerrville, Texas, and was invited to join the adult handbell choir in 9th grade. After a break from music while serving our country in the U.S. Navy and having a child, she joined one of the handbell choirs at FUMC Round Rock, Texas and continued to grow as a musician. Tammera holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and recently was accepted to Liberty University to pursue MA in Music and Worship Studies. When she is not engaged in school work, she enjoys being a stay at home mother, Navy wife, and playing oboe.
Ann Morgan
As a charter member of VHC, Ann Morgan brings more than twenty-five years of ringing experience to the group. She also rings with Tapestry Handbell Quartet. A native of Newport News, she now lives in Portsmouth with her husband, Arthur. When not ringing handbells, she enjoys quiltmaking and baseball. Go Os!
Chad Lenz
Charles “Chad” Lenz is a music enthusiast and loves a wide variety of musical genres. He’s been playing the piano for 14 years, and handbells for seven years. He is an active member of Hilton Presbyterian Church Handbell Ringers. He also plays for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Chad played percussion and piano in Denbigh High School Marching Band and Orchestra. Since graduating, he works for Virginia Living Museum. Chad takes pleasure in traveling, hiking, dining and friends. He takes delight in daily constitutionals with Dewey and Isabelle (the mongrels). Chad’s favorite down time is playing vintage or current video games. He never loses a game, like he never misses a beat. Chad is delighted to be a member of VHC.
Jack Logansmith
Jack Logansmith got his first experience in handbell ringing as a student at the Montessori International Children’s House in Annapolis, MD. His first chance to ring with a dedicated handbell choir was not until college. While studying at Bucknell University, Jack spent seven semesters ringing with the Rooke Chapel Ringers. He performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association conference in Erie in Spring 2018, and in the 26th Annual Nittany Valley Handbell Festival (with William Payn, as the guest conductor). After graduating from Bucknell, Jack had brief stints as a member of the Westminster Ringers (Fall 2020) and Suncoast Bronze Ringers (Winter 2020 to early Spring 2021). When not busy ringing, Jack stays busy in various ways: teaching at Norview High School, singing with the choir of Christ & St Luke’s Church in downtown Norfolk, and being a sports fan who supports the New England Patriots and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Debbie Robertson
Debbie Robertson has been part of handbells for many years, starting with the bell choir at her home church in Suffolk, where she still enjoys ringing. VHC offers even more growth and appreciation for the instrument. She loves music and enjoys playing flute as well as bells. Debbie is a retired teacher and reading specialist who worked with the Suffolk Public School system for thirty-nine rewarding years. She is married and the mother of four (two sons, two daughters). The family keeps growing and now includes a granddaughter and grandson (whom she adores and loves to spoil!). The opportunity to ring with VHC is exciting and challenging. The experience of being with such a talented group of musicians is truly rewarding and sharing this music with others is a blessing. Debbie is also a member of Tapestry Handbell Quartet
David Salerno
David is the newest member of VHC, joining the group in June 2019. Born and raised in Suffolk, VA, David has been ringing handbells for over 30 years with his church handbell choir, the Joyful Ringers at Bethlehem Christian Church. He started directing the group last November. He has been interested in music for much of his life, learning to play the piano and drums as a teenager. In addition to handbells, David has also performed with his church’s Praise Band, was a member of the Audio-Visual Team, and has DJ’d for school dances, weddings, and other special events. David is an IT Specialist at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where he has worked for 32 years. He and his wife have two college age children and playing handbells has been a family activity for them. In his spare time, David enjoys kayaking, biking, and traveling, and he and his family have visited all 50 states and 12 foreign countries.
Amanda Shortt
Appreciative. Awkward. Amiable. Absurd. Amanda is just happy to be a part of this talented group of musicians.
Karen Simons
Karen Simons is a charter member of VHC. She moved to the Virginia Beach area in 1991 to take a job at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. It was at this time she was first introduced to handbells. Karen grew up with music as part of her life learning to play the piano (she claims "poorly"), the viola ("not bad"), and singing ("you be the judge"), so learning to ring handbells was a challenge she couldn't resist. She has been ringing for thirty years and can't think of a better way to express yourself in music. Karen also rings with St. Andrew Presbyterianl Church in Suffolk. As a member of the VHC, Karen has led classes in change ringing and bell techniques for various VHC sponsored clinics and mini-festivals. She currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia with an assortment of rescued dogs and cats that sometimes fail to appreciate the melodious sounds of bells as she practices!
Lacey Ward
Lacey Ward is excited to be ringing with VHC for the first time after moving to Norfolk this past summer. Born into a bell-ringing family, she started ringing at FUMC in Missouri City, TX at the age of 8 and has now been playing for over 30 years. She is in the U.S. Navy, which has given her the opportunity to play with 12 different handbell choirs in 6 different states across the country. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running and triathlons, and singing in the choir at Baylake UMC in Virginia Beach. .
Donna Writesel
Donna Writesel joined VHC in September 2009. She has been interested in music since her first piano lesson at age six. Born in Portsmouth, VA, she started playing handbells as a youth at her church. She attended TCC with a major in piano and a minor in voice. Donna attends Community UMC where she is the director of the Dan Lovelace Memorial Ringers, The Joyful Noise Ringers, and the Children's Chime Choir. When not directing bells, she enjoys singing in the choir. She lives in Virginia Beach and has one son Tyler, who is currently a commercial truck driver for Bay West. Donna works as an product specialist for a local fiber optics company.
*Members currently on hiatus
