| Kathleen Wissinger - Guest Conductor (Massed, Copper B and Bronze) Kath is all about bells…and bell people! Known for her clear directing, creative teaching style and engaging compositions, she is a ringer, educator, director, educator and clinician. She has directed and taught at events across the US, in Canada and even in Japan. Many of her popular classes deal with syncopation, mixed meter and other rhythm elements as well as handbell pedagogy and interpretive ringing. Celebrating 16 years teaching handbell classes for 5th-8thgrade students at Redeemer Classical School (Harrisonburg, VA), Kath also directs MOSAIC Handbell Ensemble (an advanced community group) and Gloria Dei (an adult church group). With over 180 pieces in print, Kath (who is also a classically trained pianist) writes music of all styles and levels for full bell choirs as well as solos, bell tree pieces, small ensembles, hymns, anthems, children’s songs and pedagogically-focused pieces. She founded ringTrue Handbell Music in 2015 to allow more creative freedom in her music. Her teaching curriculum “Square One” was recently released. Kath chairs the CHIME Loan program for Area 3 (Handbell Musicians of America) and served on the Area 3 Board for 8 years. She is often called on to mentor new groups, new ringers and new events. Kath also teaches piano in her home studio in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. |
| Lisa Kyriakides - Guest Conductor (Massed, Copper A, Gold Choir) Lisa is an experienced soloist, educator, musical director, conductor and adjudicator. She is the director of the Handbell program at Aurora United Church, which includes conducting two 4-octave choirs, Faith-A-Peal and Bellissimo and is a member of the EmBellished Handbell Quartet. Lisa has been a ringer in The Bronze Foundation, an auditioned community Handbell Ensemble, since 2015. She has given many Handbell workshops at OGEHR Festivals and workshop days and has been a guest conductor at several local Playdates. Lisa is also an accomplished Soprano and has performed in operas and musicals including most recently as Miss Hannigan in Annie. Lisa taught music in the school systems in Toronto and York Region for 12 years and has conducted countless choirs. For the last 8 years she has been the conductor of the Ballantrae Adult Community Choir. Lisa was the Voice and Choir Adjudicator at the Sunderland Music Festival in 2014 and the York Region Music Alive Festivals in 2016, 2017 & 2018. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario as well as certificates in Voice, Piano, Theory, Counterpoint and History from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Lisa lives in Newmarket with her husband Bob and her two lovely daughters, Elizabeth and Victoria. |
