People
of
AHE

Patti is a mom and a doctor in her non-bell life. She works as a pediatric intensivist at Dell Children's Medical Center. She and her husband Mike have 2 small children, Isaac and Grace. Her hobbies include swimming, scrapbooking, travelling, scuba diving, bicycling, hiking, movies, and reading. Patti is originally from Nebraska and joined AHE in the Fall of 2004.

Bob began his serious pursuit of music as a Music Education major at UT-Austin, where he also played trumpet in the Longhorn Band for five years. He later went back to UT for a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting. Since 1992, he has worked as an Instructional Technologist at the Education Service Center, Region XIII, with a specialization in video conferencing for K-12 schools. Bob has served the AGEHR as Chair of Area-IX as well as founding Peal Publishing, a small handbell publishing company offering pieces that target advanced community ensembles. Bob has directed the AHE since 1996. His favorite non-musical outlet is a fledgling interest in photography.

Amy is a teacher with the perfect class: her daughter Elizabeth and her son Alexander. When Amy is not at home teaching academics or piano, she can usually be found at Holy Word Lutheran Church playing organ, teaching piano, or directing choir. Amy joined AHE in 2003, but she has rung bells since 1986. She grew up in Michigan, attended college in Minnesota, and has lived in Wisconsin, Austin, and Pflugerville. Amy's favorite hobby is making music with her husband Stephen.

Prior to joining the Austin Handbell Ensemble in 1999, Teresa played handbells for five years with Oak Hill United Methodist Church. Teresa is a Registered Nurse in the Mother/Baby Unit at Seton Medical Center. She has two sons, Van and Lance, of whom she is very proud. She loves animals and has two cats and a horse. Her hobbies include gardening, shopping, swimming, and riding her horse.

Mark returned to the AHE in 2006 after a two-year hiatus spent earning a Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering in Illinois. When he is not at work selling software for a local electronics retailer, he spends his time on projects ranging from learning harmonica to raising (read: killing) orchids. One of these projects includes the recent redesign of AHE's website.

Chuck has been a member of AHE since 1997. He began ringing in junior high school in Corpus many years ago and has been a member of numerous choirs over the years. He is the Business Manager at New Hope Health Care during the day, but he spends nights and weekends working as a House Manager at both the UT Performing Arts Center and the Long Center for the Performing Arts. When he finds spare time he enjoys cooking, gardening, hanging out with friends, and taking classes in a wide range of subjects. He also has four very spoiled rotten, wonderful dogs that he loves unashamedly.

David is Director of Software Development for E Publishing. He's played piano since childhood, trumpet since middle school, and guitar since high school. This is his first year with AHE but he also rings with his church choir at First Baptist. David and his wife, Cinda, are proud parents to twins Eyan and Chloe. Remarkably, he still finds time for pursuing theater, hiking, backpacking, and computer games.

Becky is a charter member of the Austin Handbell Ensemble and has played handbells for over 25 years. Many of those years were spent at Hyde Park Baptist, and more recently at Austin Baptist Church. In addition to handbells, she has also played piano and clarinet. Becky works at Lone Star Direct. She loves playing with her dog "Little Bit", and she collects coins and movie soundtracks.

Doug joined the AHE in 2008. He started ringing handbells in 1980 and recorded a solo album as part of a fundraising effort for his church music program in New Jersey. In 1991, Doug graduated from The University of Georgia, where he was the starting first baseman for a National Championship team, with a major in journalism and a minor in music and drama. He then played professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals orginazation, reaching the Double-A level before retiring to pursue a career in coaching. Doug and his wife Carol moved to Hutto in 2007 where Doug works as a private baseball instructor.

Mike has been ringing handbells for eleven years. He began ringing at Pollard UMC, then with the East Texas Handbell Ensemble for two years. He met Bob Avant at Pinnacle 2000 in Las Vegas. After he moved to Austin, he substituted with AHE for a year and then joined as a member. Mike lives with his cat Mogwai and enjoys music, traveling, and friends.

Linda is a full time agent with Keller Williams Realty. She has been ringing bells since 1982 and, prior to her move to Austin in 1994, was a member of the Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble. Linda has a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Eastern Kentucky University and a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Texas. In addition to ringing bells, Linda directs three handbell choirs at Covenant Presbyterian Church. She also has regularly taught handbells at the Heart of Texas Suzuki Workshop at Texas State University in San Marcos. In her free time Linda likes to read, garden, travel, and play with her cats.

Cameron is a senior at Westlake High School and a member of the WHS drum line. For half his lifetime he's played bells at Westlake United Methodist Church. His non-musical interests include playing ultimate frisbee, dabbling in computer programming, and sleeping as much as possible. Although this is Cameron's first year in AHE, it's not his first concert with the group; he's provided expert drum accompaniment for us on more than one occasion.

Leslie began ringing handbells in her church as a youth in Dallas. Since then she's been a member of several church choirs and small ensembles and has had the opportunity to perform in England and in Germany. In 2005 she was a member of a select group chosen to perform for the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts Convocation in San Francisco.
Leslie became a member of AHE in December, 2005, and is enjoying ringing with her son Cameron who joined the group this year. Leslie is a registered nurse and is working on the administrative side of healthcare in the scheduling and risk management departments of Emergency Service Partners. She enjoys walking, sailing, puzzles of all kinds, and admittedly spends way too much time on the internet!

After moving around a lot growing up, Dee finally put down roots in Austin in 1986 following graduation from UT with a degree in special education. She enjoys teaching at Bryker Woods Elementary in West Austin. Her students continue to inspire and teach her everyday. Dee's precious free time is easily filled with a good book, a bicycle ride, a visit with friends, a gardening session, or a trip with Dan and Emma. She joined the Austin Handbell Ensemble in 2005 and also rings with the Ring of Faith at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church.