Jane Nolan, Director

Community Handbell Choir Director Shoreline Ringers is directed by Jane Nolan. Jane graduated from Skidmore College with a B.S. in Music Education, taught music in the Ledyard public school system, and was a church choir director for a number of years, but had never seen a handbell before 1990. Her church bought 3 octaves of handbells. She attended numerous AGEHR workshops and seminars and then took a course with Donald Allured at the Hartt School of Music and has been hooked ever since.

Jane is currently the Director of Music at St. David's Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry, CT, and also teaches piano. She serves as the AGEHR Area I membership chairperson. She has been a clinician and a director at a number of Area I events throughout new England. Her involvement with handbells since 1990, and has brought choirs to present the opening concert of the AGEHR Area I Festival/Conference in Burlington, VT, perform on tour both in the US and England, with the U.S. Coast Guard Band in New London, CT, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as many other community functions throughout New England.

The Ringers

	James Cady. James started playing bells in the year 2000 at the tender young age of 13, and he's been ringing ever since. James has led a fairly musical life, dabbling in the cello, french horn, and occassionally singing, so when he was introduced to handbells, he fell fast. James has been ringing with Shoreline since all but the first season since its inception, and honestly, he couldn't think of a more enjoyable way to spend his Wednesday evenings. When he's not playing bells, James spends most of his time pursuing a degree in Illustration at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme.

	Jean Degan. Jean Degan is the Director of Music Ministry at St. Joseph RC Church in Bristol, CT. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the University of Connecticut, a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and a Master of Music degree in Liturgical Music from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. Jean discovered handbells in 1993 and has since organized 4 handbell choirs through the church and affiliated school, adding to the four vocal choirs and extensive cantor program. Jean has been a handbell clinician/director throughout New England. She was recently elected by AGHER Area 1 membership to the position as the Chair Elect of the Board of Directors. This is a 6 year commitment to leadership in AGEHR. Jean also teaches private piano and pipe organ. She is a recitalist and accompanist on both piano and organ. Jean is very active in the Archdiocese of Hartford, directing the diocesan children's choir and recording many CD's of MusicQuest for the Small Christian Community Office. Another of her side jobs is as the music director for the drama department at Bristol Eastern High School.

	Cheryl Harger. Cheryl has been directing handbells at the First Congregational Church in Essex since 1999 but has never been a regular ringer until joining the Shoreline Ringers in 2008. Her degree is in Accounting and she works as a Financial Analyst at Infiltrator Systems in Old Saybrook, but music has always been a part of her life. Her mother taught piano, so Cheryl began playing at an early age and then took up the clarinet in elementary school. This background proved to be most helpful as she began directing handbells with no formal music education at all. She's proud of the three choirs she directs at her church: the Grace Notes, the Rainbow Ringers and the Cheerful Chimers and is enjoying this adventure with Shoreline Ringers. She lives in Ivoryton with her husband, Scott, two daughters, Sierra and Leah, and two cats, Kembe and Spatula.

	Katy King. Katy, a native of Groton, first played handbells in third grade and has rung in one of Jane's choirs ever since. In addition to ringing, she also plays the organ and sings alto in the Norwich Diocesan Choir. She is currently an independent study student at Brigham Young University in the organ performance certification program. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing fiction, knitting/crocheting, genealogy, and ballroom dancing.

	Mobby Larson. Mobby Larson is a (mostly) retired church pastor, but still active doing various forms of ministry within the United Church of Christ. She's been involved with music since children's choir in 4th grade many, many years ago. Mobby's been an accompanist for several choirs, and has been ringing bells for 10-12 years after driving Pete to all those rehearsals in earlier years. In her "spare time" now she loves reading, does storytelling, is working on several writing projects, plays with her grandkids, and has gotten hooked on beading (She makes the jewelry for the Shoreline Ringers).

	Pete Larson. Pete began ringing at the wee age of 10 and has been addicted ever since. He began under the direction of Jane, who taught him to love with handbells. He rang with the New England Ringers for a year in college, and now enjoys spending his Wednesday evenings watching Jane wave her arms furiously. He is studying to become a High School Math teacher while he lives in Colchester with his wife.

	Robin Martelle. Robin began ringing when she was twelve years old in Newtown, Pennsylvania. She is the Director of Handbells and the Junior Choir at Saint David's Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry. Robin received her B.S. in Music Education from the University of Hartford and has a Masters Degree in Education from Eastern Connecticut State University. She teaches general music for Groton Public Schools and lives in Ledyard with her husband and 2 sons.

	Kristen Russo. Kristen has been playing handbells since the age of 17. She went to her first AGEHR Festival/Conference at Niagra Falls in 1994 and has only missed one festival since then. Kristen has rung her way around New England starting with the St. Joseph Handbell Choir in Bristol CT, to the New England Ringers in MA, to Bells of Joy in Rutland VT, and now to the Shoreline Ringers! She is also a vocalist and sings with semi-professional choirs around CT as well as with the St Joseph Adult Choir in Bristol (ref. bio of Jean Degan). Kristen also likes to attend concerts and can frequently be found either 'rocking out' at a show, browsing the shelves at Borders, taking a road trip, or singing in her car. She currently lives in Terryville and directs the Asbury Methodist Church Handbell Choir in Bristol, CT. Kristen has a degree in Music Education and is a music teacher for the Bristol Schools. She has this to say about music: "It's something that must be coded in my DNA. I would not be myself without it and I HAVE to participate.

	MaryGail Simpson. MaryGail lives in Groton, CT and has been a fifth-grade teacher for over 40 years. She credits her father, a church musician, for her love of music. She has sung in various choirs and has helped organize and conduct the chorus at her school. MaryGail has played handbells for many years, beginning under the direction and tutelage of Jane Nolan at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, CT. She is married and has one son and one Airedale.

	Michael Steele. Mike has been playing handbells since day 2 of the handbell era at St. Luke, under Jane's teaching. There, he played in the Concert handbell choir, and had the opportunity to accompany the U.S. Coast Guard on handbells. He's also been involved in the recording of three CDs. He currently lives in Norwich, CT, but has lived in several other parts of CT, and works at Bob's Discount Furniture as the trainer for the delivery drivers.

	Laura Waite. Laura began ringing bells in her high school’s bell choir in Coatesville, Pennsylvania at the age of 15. She received her B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University and has a Masters Degree in Music Education from University of Connecticut. Laura teaches general/vocal music at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School in Groton and she teaches private piano lessons 2 evenings a week. Laura also rings at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry. She enjoys gardening and decorating her house when she’s not doing something musical. She currently lives in Gales Ferry with her husband Rob and her two “furry children” Max and Beau.

	Andy Wallace. Andy Wallace of North Stonington, CT, is the Music Director at the Dunn's Corners Community Church, Presbyterian, in Westerly, RI where he directs the choral and handbell programs. Andy has been ringing handbells in choirs and ensembles since 1991 and is also active as a solo ringer. He received his B.A. in Secondary Education/History and is a middle school history teacher in West Greenwich, RI, receiving several outstanding teaching awards including the prestigious Milken National Educator Award, the "Oscars" of education.