about.html

Amy Pierce, who has been involved in music since a small child, is in her 4th year as Director of Rezound! She began ringing in 1994 with Bronze choir, Kalamazoo Ringers, under the direction of Janet VanValey. Amy enjoys directing and spreading the joy of ringing. Amy's specialty is having fun while mixing the timbres of Schulmerich, Malmark choirchimes, White Chapel and occasionally Petit & Fritzen. Amy lives in Blue Springs with her supportive husband, Chris, and their two beautiful daughters. Chris and Amy enjoy working together as Reece & Nichols realtors.

Director:

Members:

Jacob Becker began ringing in the eighth grade at Blue Ridge Christian School, where he rang all through high school. He then joined the bell choir at College of the Ozarks, where he played for three years. He currently lives in Raytown, MO, and is enjoying his second year in Rezound!

Cathy Brenner has been ringing handbells for approximately 10 years. Music has always been her favorite way of relaxing.

Lauran Delancy began ringing in high school as a member of the Ft. Leavenworth Youth Handbell Choir under the direction of Mrs. Charm Peterman. She immediately fell in love with the handbells and has been a soloist since 1998 and has been directing since 1999 both at the church and college level. She loves working with handbells and answering questions as a clinician and also as a sales aid for Schumerich Handbells. Lauran attended Concordia University Wisconsin where she had the opportunity to ring as a member of the Alleluia Ringers under the direction of Dr. John Behnke for 6 years. She graduated in 2003 with a BA in Parish Music and a BA in Humanities. She just completed her Master of Church Music degree with an emphasis in Handbells this Fall. Lauran especially loves ringing with her husband Patrick in their church handbell choir.

Romaine Diamond has been involved with music her entire life. Growing up in a musical family, she played the piano, oboe and English Horn. As an adult, Romaine has enjoyed playing handbells as an extra curricular activity. Romaine first played English Handbells with Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church and the Claremont Ringers in Atlanta, GA. After returning "home" to Kansas City in 2003, she sought out an accomplished group to further her skills. This is Romaine's seventh year with Rezound!

Kathy Ford taught vocal music for 28 years in the Clinton and Blue Springs public schools. She earned a Music Ed. degree from Baker University and a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in organ and music theory from University of Central Missouri. She is an organist at First United Methodist Church in Blue Springs, and is director of the Chancel Choir and two adult handbell choirs. She serves as a choral and handbell clinician and adjudicator in Missouri and Kansas. She also maintains a private piano studio of twenty-six students.

Kathy has a special interest in handbell ringing. Her student handbell choirs were invited to play three times for the Missouri State Music Educator’s Association. She has been a director for nineteen years at Heartland Presbyterian Center’s Intergenerational handbell camp at Parkville, Mo. She rang four years with Campanella of KC and is in her eighth year with Rezound!

Kathy and her husband, Chuck, have two married sons, Chad and Tanner, three grandchildren, Lilly, Drake and Adison, and pets Meg and Keefer. In her spare time, Kathy assists Chuck with his private brass students as their contest accompanist, and includes some golfing and cross-stitching.

Eric Gustafson began ringing handbells in the 4th grade at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mcpherson, Kansas and was a founding member of its youth Bronze choir, Spirit Ringers. He currently lives in Topeka, where he works at the State Library. Growing up in a musical family, Eric played both the piano and the saxaphone. This is his first year with Rezound! and he is enjoying every minute of it.

Pat Latshaw began ringing in 1986 and has enjoyed opportunities to ring solo and small ensemble pieces as well as serving her church as handbell choir director. She also plays the flute and piano. Pat lives in Prairie Village with her husband, daughter and son. This is her sixth year with Rezound!

Tenessa Martin started ringing handbells when she was in the eighth grade as a member of the Ft. Leavenworth Youth Handbell Choir. She started piano lessons when she was eight years old, then started flute in 5th grade. She then tried other various woodwinds including bassoon, clarinet, and the saxophone. Tenessa graduated from the University of Kansas in 2006 majoring in Music Education. She is an elementary music teacher at Bradley Elementary School on Fort Leavenworth and teaches private piano lessons at her home. Tenessa has been ringing handbells on and off for about thirteen years.

Tenessa enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband, Whit and their adorable baby boy, McCoy. She also likes to garden, scrapbook and other crafts, and play on Facebook!

Sheri Rutten was born and raised in Palmer, Nebraska. She started ringing in 1995 at First United Methodist Church in Blue Springs, Missouri and has attended the Intergenerational Handbell Camp at Heartland Presbyterian Center in Parkville, MO for several years. Sheri joined Rezound! in the fall of 2001. In addition to ringing handbells, she enjoys playing the flute, singing in her church choir, cross-stitching, following Nebraska football, and spending time with her niece and nephews.

Sara Washington has been involved with handbells for over 30 years. She has acquired many bell friends from all over the country while ringing in numerous choirs in Kansas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Iowa and Missouri. She helped start several auditioned community groups - The Rhapsody Ringers of Manhattan, KS, The Tulsa Festival Ringers of Tulsa, OK, Kansas City Handbells and Rezound!.

Most years Sara rings with others from all over the country at Bay View Week of Handbells in various assignments. Always looking for a ringing challenge, she has rung in many auditioned Bronze choirs at National AGEHR sponsored events. She was one of four selected for the Solo and Ensemble Dream Team-summer 2005. (http://www.steproject.com/SEE/2005Archive/DREAMTEAM.html)
Sara is a past AGEHR Area VIII Board Member having served as Secretary for 2 terms, 2000-2004. She currently directs Handbell groups at Platte Woods United Methodist Church in Kansas City.
Other interests: Sara plays bassoon for Platte City Community Band and her church orchestra, and she works in stained glass for Joy Stained Glass Studio. (joystainedglass.com)

Angela Ohmie has been involved in music her whole life. She started with voice, piano, and flute in grade school. Since then she has played several instruments including organ, alto sax, and her favorite-bass clarinet. She has been a member of Concordia University River Forest's Wind Symphony, Kapelle, and Arkansas's Fort Smith Chorale. Angela started playing handbells at Concordia under the direction of Professor Jean Harrison, and graduated from Concordia in 2003 majoring in Music Education and Church Music. Since then she has taught 2nd-4th grades and music in Lutheran schools, worked at Family Christian Bookstore, and is a Creative Memories scrapbooking consultant. She is also the assistant organist and a Sunday School teacher at her church, Augsburg Lutheran in Shawnee. Angela lives in Olathe with her husband, Justin and their two cats, and is looking forward to the completion of their adoption process. This is Angela's first year with Rezound!

Sharon Pyburn has been involved in music all her life coming from a musical family. She has been the Assistant Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Lee's Summit since 1998. She directs 2 handbell choirs and is in charge of the children's music program in addition to assisting in many other areas at her church. Along with directing and ringing handbells for her church, she also sings in the church choir, plays piano and trumpet. In her spare time she enjoys her Tastefully Simple business, going to her children's events, and fishing.

Sharon is married to her husband Jerry and has 3 teenagers, Cassandra, Justin and Georgia.

David Rebecchi doesn’t know exactly when he started ringing handbells; if you ask, he can only say: “Since I had to stand on a step-stool to reach my bells.” He began ringing, under the direction of Rev. Karen J. Yount, with the Carillons of Budd Park Christian Church of Kansas City where he also became an accomplished soloist. After graduating high school, he became a member of the Praise Ringers of the First Christian Church of Maryville – during which time he composed and recorded his first handbell composition, “And the People Rejoiced” – until he graduated college. After substituting for various choirs and an almost 3 year hiatus, he joined Rezound! in mid-Fall 2009.

David is a member of the First Christian Church of Bonner Springs where he lives with his wife, Katie, who is the leader of the church’s music team, and his daughter Margo.

Lisa Mills began ringing bells as a teenager at her church. Twenty plus years later she is still ringing. Lisa also plays the piano and has given lessons in the past. She is also one of two accompanists for the Odessa Middle School Honor Choir. Lisa works as a sign language interpreter in the Independence Missouri School District. Her family consists of wife Carey, two daughters, Alexis and Allie and their two dogs, Makita and Lettie. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, especially family movie night on Fridays, going to zoos, going to Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City, reading and being outside.