Concert Bells of Fort Worth is an auditioned community handbell ensemble of advanced ringers from the North Texas area. We are dedicated to musical excellence through artistic handbell performance.
This page includes "What People Are Saying" as well as Conductor and Ringer Biographies.
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(Includes a full "About Us", "Press Release" and Hi-Res photo)
I heard and INCREDIBLE concert last night by the Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Their technical mastery was astounding and their musicianship was first rate. They didn’t just play the music. They WERE the music. Congratulations to music director Stephanie Rhoades and the entire group!”
Michael Joy
Handbell Composer and Clinician
The Concert Bells of Fort Worth “wowed” us all with an exciting concert during the Area IX Festival. Their performance was clean, sparkling and oh, so musical! Kudos to every ringer AND the director!!”
Anna Laura Page
Handbell Composer and Clinician
Concert Bells of Fort Worth, under the direction of Stephanie Rhoades, gave a concert that was nothing short of brilliant. With their concert titled “Young at Heart,” they wowed the audience with their musical precision and mastery. The selections they shared were a perfect combination of toe-tapping, young-at-heart music with occasional unexpected antics blended with pieces displaying the depth of soul the entire group has for music and handbells.”
Scholarship Recipient
Area IX 2010 Festival
Concert Bells ring with an enthusiasm and sparkle that engages the listener. Precision in the execution of simultaneously rung notes and accurate ringing clear the way for their beautiful musical expression to thrill the listener. The ensemble’s dynamic palate extends from the softest of pianissimos to the loudest fortissimos. Concert Bells are a “must hear!” I am very proud that I am a part of the history of this outstanding ringing ensemble!”
Beth Judd, 2010
Beautiful control of dynamics. At every tempo, ringers’ motions were synchronized and mastery of the instrument was obvious...
marvelous conservation of motion.
CBFW is the ‘total package’: they have that elusive balance of technique and musicianship; they communicate with the audience; they do educational outreach; they gather a broad base of support, then keep proving themselves worthy of it.
Bravi.”
Martin Morley
Handbell Clinician and Conductor
Past Chair, AGEHR Area IX
Stephanie Rhoades has been the Conductor and Artistic Director since March of 2003. With a reputation as an effective and engaging teacher, she has been a clinician and guest conductor for numerous workshops and festivals, including the Presbyterian Worship and Music conferences at Mo-Ranch and Montreat, Baylor University’s Alleluia! Conference, and the Las Vegas Twelfth Night Handbell Festival.
Ms. Rhoades is Minister of Music and the Arts at Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas, where she directs the adult and children?s vocal and handbell choirs. Prior to working at Northaven, she taught lower elementary music at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas and served as Associate Director of Music at Grace Presbyterian Church in Plano. She has a long history of serving on local and area boards and was recently elected At-Large Member to the National Board of the Handbell Musicians of America (formerly AGEHR). An accomplished ringer, she was a member of the acclaimed Dallas Handbell Ensemble, directed by David R. Davidson, and has participated in Distinctly Bronze East and several Advanced Seminar Choirs.
A graduate of Perkins School of Theology at SMU, Ms. Rhoades earned her Master of Sacred Music degree in choral conducting shortly after earning her undergraduate degree in music from Yale University. Her parents, both music teachers (retired), encouraged her to play the violin and trumpet in addition to singing, ringing, and dancing. Her non-musical interests include cycling, trying new foods, and attempting to train her dog.
Pam Adams has been ringing handbells since 1989 at First United Methodist Church - Richardson, where she remained an active ringer until the spring of 2007. While pursuing her BBA in Marketing, she rang with the Baylor University Handbell Ensemble under the direction of Debra Jackson. Pam currently serves as Publications Chair of Area IX (Texas/Oklahoma) region of AGEHR, and also rings in a local sextet called “Sounds of Six”. She is employed by a jewelry manufacturer/wholesaler as an Account Specialist and also works part-time as a custom framer. In her spare time, Pam admits to being hooked on video games and enjoys rooting for the Texas Tech Red Raiders where her stepson attends.
Linda began ringing handbells in 1980 at Orchard Lake Presbyterian Church in Orchard Lake, Michigan. During this time she also was a member of a community handbell choir when her love for handbells became her life long passion. Linda studied music at Northwestern University and has been involved in handbell and choral groups in the Detroit area and in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. After moving to Texas, Linda joined CBFW as a charter member and past Vice President. Enjoying retirement from Manpower, Inc., she currently rings at First United Methodist Church Mansfield and is active in many music programs at the church. She enjoys life with her husband, Dave, their three children, six grandchildren and their English Springer, Sassy.
Kari Daelke is a graduate of Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana and began ringing handbells in 1980 at the suggestion of her sorority big sis. That experience developed into a lifelong passion for ringing that has included concert tours, ringing in church and advanced community groups, attending many area, national and international ringing events such as Loire Valley Handbell Festival in France, Distinctly Bronze and the Inaugural UK Bronze in England. She also rings and helps select/coordinate repertoire for the Glory Ringers at King of Glory Lutheran-Dallas. Professionally, she is a full time graphic artist / pre-press manager at Rapid Reprographics in Dallas.
Lynn Garis began playing bells in while in the Junior High Youth Group in the early 80?s in her hometown of Owensboro, KY and continued on through her high school years. She also was a substitute ringer in the summer months while she was in college at Murray State University with a major in music and a minor in business management. While at Murray, Lynn became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity. Since then Lynn has been ringing in various church choirs in New Jersey and Georgia. She is married to the love of her life, Greg and they have two wonderful children, Cole and Hope.
Elizabeth Garvin is proof that music and math really do go hand in hand. She is a Computer Engineering graduate of Texas A&M University and works as a Quality Assurance Analyst at Concentra. She’s tickled at the fact that she teaches children as young as 8 to ring, which is 3 years younger than when she started ringing. Through high school she rang in a competitive show choir that practiced daily. These guys took their ringing beyond traditional school performances. They rang on the road and in many competitions where their music was performed memorized and without a director. Elizabeth’s passion for music is shared with her loving husband who sings and plays bass and wonderful stepdaughter who plays trombone.
Jean Harden, charter member and treasurer of CBFW, started to ring handbells in 1994 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Denton, Tex., and is now Director of Adult Handbells there. She has taught at regional and national AGEHR conventions and served on the Board of Area IX. A music librarian by profession, Jean has also been active as a musicologist and has taught musicology, music history, music bibliography, and music librarianship at the university level. She received degrees in music and librarianship from Emory, Cornell, and Syracuse Universities and is a published author of articles about music. She moved to Denton to take her current job as a music librarian at the University of North Texas.
Qunida Hatfield attended Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She has played many instruments including oboe, English horn, marimba and various percussion instruments. Quinda began playing handbells in 1981 and is a charter member of Concert Bells. After almost 15 years as Director of Music/Organist/Handbell Director at St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Hurst, she retired. Her career in church music spanned over 35 years. She is currently subbing as an organist and is enjoying spending time with her family.
Cathy Herring is a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a degree in Music Education. Originally a violinist, Cathy has been ringing handbells for over 25 years at First United Methodist Church of Richardson where she also directs a youth handbell choir. Cathy and her husband Bill have a daughter Lee, two sons Charles and Patrick and a grandson Corbin. She is employed as the comptroller of OnLine Insurance Services and as musical advisor for Ad-Linc, Inc., an on-demand publisher of handbell and choral music. In their spare time, Cathy and Bill enjoy traveling to anywhere there is access to the ocean. They also are active in various charitable organizations dedicated to helping underprivileged children.
Valerie Martin joined Concert Bells of Fort Worth in 2005. Growing up, her family taught her the love of music through playing piano, and the school band program taught her how to enjoy making music with a group. Over the past 40 years, she has participated in various church roles including music director, pianist, vocalist, and handbell ringer. She currently teaches in the Radiologic Sciences Program at Brookhaven College where she has also participated in ensemble groups playing French Horn. Valerie has two children who play piano and violin - a son, Taylor and a daughter, Madison. When she’s not on the beach, Valerie lives in Grapevine with her husband, Dale.
Carol Lynn Mizell is a Band Director at Strickland MS in Denton, Conductor of the Denton Community Band (since 1978), and Handbell Director at First United Methodist Church, Denton. She holds B.M.E. and M.M.E. degrees from the University of North Texas. Carol Lynn is an active Conductor and Clinician for area and national handbell events. She is a published composer, holds membership in Texas Music Educators Association, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and Sigma Alpha Iota, and serves on the Handbell Committee for the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Carol Lynn and her husband, Bob, have two daughters, Michelle Mizell Corazao and Jennifer Mizell Bollinger, sons-in-law Marc Corazao and Bob Bollinger, and grandson Ian Michael Corazao.
Kathleen Parsons lives in Richardson, where she is active in the music program at the First United Methodist Church. She rings in an adult handbell choir, coordinates and directs the Children’s and Youth Bell Choirs, and serves as the accompanist for the Children’s Choirs. Kathleen sings in and serves as the warm-up pianist for the Chancel Choir. She plays the violin with the Chancel Choir, in the church orchestra, and performs as a soloist for weddings and events in the Dallas area. Kathleen teaches piano, violin and viola lessons. She has a degree in Music Education from Southern Methodist University. Kathleen and her husband, Terry, a Psychotherapist in Dallas, have a daughter, Laura, a son, Adam, and two grandsons, Wyatt and Will.
Brenda Swindle has been ringing handbells for 15 years. She began ringing and still rings with The Ruth Greer Handbell Choir at First Presbyterian Church. She rang with Brookhaven Handbell Ensemble under the direction of Bonnie Riddle for over 10 years. Always open to new ventures and challenges in handbell ringing, she currently enjoys being part of The Sounds of Six and Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Brenda attended the University of Texas at Arlington. She is now in the realty business at Goodloe Realty Services, Inc. in Carrollton, after being on staff at First Presbyterian, Richardson for over 10 years. She resides in Garland and stays busy with three children, husband and choral and handbell rehearsals.
Lori Talbott began ringing handbells over 30 years ago. She was privileged to ring handbells at Christmas time with her high school band and the rest is history as they say. Through the years she has rung in various church choirs and community groups. Highland Park Presbyerian Church is particularly fun to ring at because they have the “Big Bass Toys” as Lori likes to call them. While she rings handbells by night and weekend, she manages a cardiology specific imaging center by day. She lives in Plano with her son, Jordan, and delights in fixing up the house, yard and pool when she has the time.
Karen Thompson is an Associate Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth, where her duties include conducting three handbell choirs. She is also the founding and current President of CBFW. Karen has enjoyed teaching and conducting handbells at clinics, festivals and workshops all over the United States. Karen has served in numerous capacities for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) including national committees and the Area IX Board (Texas and Oklahoma) and is currently serving as chair-elect for Area IX. Karen has a wonderful husband, Rick; two talented and beautiful daughters, Alice and Helen; and two retired racing greyhounds, Kirk and Daisy.
Thomas Williams has been ringing bells for over 20 years. Previously, he has co-directed the Ozark Bronze with Kerry Johnston while in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Called to music ministry in 2002, he recently moved to Texas to serve as Director of Music and Worship at Granbury First United Methodist Church. Thomas? mantra to his handbell ensembles has always been, ?Practice makes better!? When Thomas isn?t ringing bells or leading worship he can be found at the Hood County YMCA or taking long walks on the beach in Granbury.
* Charter Ringer of Concert Bells of Fort Worth
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