Copper B Workshops |
There are three workshop sessions for each ringing level. Below are the workshop codes, titles, and clinicians for each workshop offered in the timeslot. Click on the workshop title and clinician name to be taken to the detailed descriptions and bios. Here is a legend for the codes: |
Friday, June 2, 2023 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. |
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Friday, June 2, 2023 |
Saturday, June 3, 2023
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Copper B Workshop Descriptions and Clinician Bios |
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Workshop Clinician Bios
| Michelle Adams is a retired dental assistant living in Nestleton. She was married to her husband David in 1976. They have 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren. During an event United Church Women, a workshop sparked an interest in drumming. She now facilitates a drum circle at her church in Blackstock and gives workshops when requested. |
| Sandra Jean Bedford is a retired elementary school teacher living in Brantford. She is the organist and choir director at St. George United Church in St.George. Sandra began ringing bells in 2007 with the Queensway Ringers in Brantford. For many years she has been ringing with Bronze Foundation and has been the director of the handbell choir at Wellington Square United Church in Burlington. |
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Linda Chapman started Line Dancing 15 years ago in Amherst, Nova Scotia, and finally found a form of exercise she loved because it was so much fun! After returning to Kingston, she took classes and in 2011, started teaching. She has taught four levels: Introductory, Beginner, Improver and Intermediate; and up to 11 classes per week. Several of her choreographed dances are posted on Copperknob, a worldwide website for line dances. Last year, Sugar Sugar, one of her Beginner dances, was posted on YouTube by dance groups around the globe. Once she started, she was hooked - and she has never looked back! |
| John-Charles (J.-C.) Coolen, an active participant and leader in the Greater Toronto handbell community, has been ringing since 1989 and directing since 1998. One of the founding members of The Bronze Foundation, he has served as its Director since 2005. Since 2018, he has also directed Bronze Foundation Academy. This year marks his 25th year directing Bells of Bowmanville at the Bowmanville Seventh-day Adventist Church. For 13 years, he served as a member of the Board of Directors and Membership Secretary for OGEHR, including time as President. He has also served as Ontario District Coordinator for Area 2 of the HMA. |
| Ian Costinak began ringing handbells in Toronto when he was 11 years old, and has recently returned to Ontario after nine years in the prairies. He's a member of the Limestone Ringers in Kingston, and when he isn't ringing, you can find him writing, indoor rock climbing, and playing with his cats. |
| Dr. Debbie Fingas is the Minister of Music at Trinity United Church in Cobourg, where she accompanies weekly services and conducts a children choir, the Chancel Choir and the Jubilate Handbell Choir. She conducts workshops in handbell ringing and has been faculty for the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers Festivals, Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar and the Summer Institute of Church Music. Debbie has completed a Doctorate of Ministry from the University of Toronto examining how participating in church choir or handbell choir nurtures a participant’s spiritual life. |
| Terry Kirham Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi® began in Toronto in 1972, brought to Canada from China by Moy Lin-Shin. It has since spread across Canada – there are branches in most Canadian centres – as well as in 26 other countries. Taoist Tai Chi® practice is a moving meditation that reduces stress and helps you find joy. It can be done by people of all ages. Physically it will make you energetic, balanced, strong and supple. All instructors are volunteers, happy to share their knowledge with others. |
| Emily Li has a master's degree in music composition. She is a handbell soloist, composer, and conductor. She completed the Graduate Program in Handbells at Concordia University, Wisconsin, studied under many handbell experts. Emily founded the HK Handbell Academy and the Handbell Association of HK (HAHK). She is the Chairperson of HAHK, the Artistic Director of the Academy, the HK Youth Handbell Ensemble, and the principal guest conductor for Ministry of Bellz in Singapore. She is the faculty of the National Seminars in the United States and served as the massed ringing conductors in the 15th, 16th, 17th & 20th International Handbell Symposia. |
| Mark Matterson has 35 years of experience as a church musician. He obtained his first organist role at the age of 13 and has worked as a choir director (handbells and vocal) or as a tenor section lead ever since. A graduate of UBC School of Music majoring in Music Theory, Mark has been involved in the music program at St Peter’s Erindale since arriving in Mississauga in 2003 and has directed the St Peter's Handbell Ringers since 2007. Mark has contributed many arrangements and original compositions presented by the St Peter’s choirs over the years. |
| Brittany McCorriston has been playing handbells for over ten years and holds a Bachelors of Music in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music. Brittany specializes in music editing and arranging and currently works as a Music Publication Editor for Hal Leonard. Brittany has a passion for teaching and believes that fluency in music technology is beneficial to all music learners. In 2021, Brittany coordinated OGEHR’s Virtual Handbell project. |
| Janet McDonald has been a Director of the Limestone Ringers in Kingston since 1995. She has a BA with a major in Music, a BA in Music Education, and a MA in Choral Conducting. Janet was the Director of Kindermusik for 15 years and the Conductor of the Pro Arte Singers of Kingston. She enjoys singing and has been in many choirs from 9 years of age, until the present. |
| Janice Moncrieff is a retired teacher who used her innate talent of fostering a love of learning, creativity, music, community and joy in her classrooms. In retirement she is sharing that gift with adults. adults. Janice has sung in choirs, participated in handbell, ukulele, recorder, improv, clowning, drum and guitar workshops, and performed in musicals. She has recently become a certified Laughter Yoga instructor. Janice understands the connection we all have to music and is excited to offer workshops that help people connect to their inner child, find joy in being in community and share ways to release inhibitions. |
| Dominique Moreau is a percussionist and music teacher in Ottawa. He plays with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and various other ensembles, teaches at Gisèle-Lalonde High School and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and currently directs the St. Andrew's Ringers. |
| heather nicholson has been ringing since 1992. She has been a founding member of The Bells of St. Andrew’s (Scarborough), The Bronze Foundation (Toronto), Alloy Fusion (Cobourg), and Quintessence Handbell Ensemble (Scarborough). She has performed and taught at local, regional, national and international handbell events across North America. heather was Editor of OGEHR’s “Clapper Chatter” for more than 10 years, and served on numerous event committees. She is currently OGEHR’s Central East Area Representative. heather performs bell solos and has three solo handbell arrangements in publication with Sonology Music, AGEHR Publishing, and From the Top Music. |
| Paul Van Nest moved to Kingston in 1965 and is an active volunteer at his church and the community He is an avid historian (he has led 62 tours of American Civil War battlefields) and a member of the Kingston Historical Society. He and Sharon have a family of 4 children and 8 grandchildren. |
| Ron Parker retired from thirty-six years of teaching music as Head of Music and Fine Arts at Trinity College School, Port Hope. He also taught in Toronto and Bowmanville. Ron studied at The Royal Conservatory, University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Lincoln Center. He is an active performer in several orchestras, bands, quintets and jazz groups. Ron has conducted school ensembles throughout North America and led tours of European cities. He has many hobbies and interests but his wife, children, and grandchildren remain a source of joy and pride in his life. |
| Elizabeth Winfield |
| Lloyd Winfield |
| Kathleen Wissinger is OGEHR’s 2023 Festival Guest Conductor for Massed, Copper B and Bronze Choirs 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 Japan. Kath chairs the CHIME Loan program for Area 3 (HMA) 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. |
| Justin Wooten is a percussionist and music teacher in Ottawa. He plays with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and various other ensembles, teaches at Gisèle-Lalonde High School and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and currently directs the St. Andrew's Ringers. |