Meet Our Ringers
Ringer Bios
Tracey Bowers, 2003 I started ringing bells almost 30 years ago in 5th grade. I really started to enjoy the art of ringing handbells when I joined the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University, WI. As a charter member of MHE, I am glad to be able to keep my passion of ringing active. I am also honored to be leading this wonderful group of ringers as the President. I am a staff accountant at a private company in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. I enjoy scrapbooking, reading or riding bike in my spare time. I also enjoy spending time traveling or even just relaxing around the house with my husband, Brad, and our dog, Shelby.
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Linda Carlson, 2003I have been ringing bells on and off for about 30 years. I live in Wauwatosa with my husband, Mark, and four children ages 14-20, two of which are students at UW-Madison and one is a student at UW-Oshkosh. My son plays in the UW Marching Band which is special since my husband & I met in the band many years ago! In addition to my job as "mom", my husband and I own 4 Sport Clips Haircuts located in Germantown, Pewaukee, Brookfield and West Allis. Our family has also enjoyed hosting AFS Exchange Students. We currently have our 6th, a lovely gal from Norway, living with us until July 2016. Being a charter member of MHE, I thoroughly enjoy this outlet for my love of music!
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Kaethe Grabenhofer, 2003I am a charter member of MHE and started my handbell journey in high school. I instantly became hooked and continued ringing in the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University, Mequon. Scrapbooking and reading are a few of the activities I try to fit in when I am not teaching music or playing organ at First Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in historic Cedarburg. If you’d like to try Lyft, download the app, and enter this code Kaethe1 for a free ride under $25. I also serve as president for the Milwaukee Orff Chapter.
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Jamie Haack, 2016I started playing handbells back in 6th grade at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School in West Allis. I began in the children's choir and briefly played in the high school choir before permanently moving to the adult choir, where I still am today. Ten years and still going strong (which is actually quite a long time considering I am only 23). When I'm not ringing my heart out, I work at Cardinal Health in West Allis as a Nuclear Pharmacy Technician and am also working toward my BS in Computer Science at UW-Milwaukee. I am honored to have the privilege of ringing with MHE and am ecstatic to see what's to come!
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Suzanne Hibbard, 2003I have been involved in handbells for over twenty years as a ringer, director, teacher, clinician, sales rep and lover of bells. I am a charter member of MHE and the current Director of Music at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Franklin where I play for services and direct five choirs. I am also an Activity Director at Heritage Place, a senior apartment complex in Brookfield, where I recently started a senior chime choir. I reside in Franklin with my husband Steve, also a musician, and we are blessed with four children.
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Jana Larson, 2011I began ringing handbells in fourth grade and haven't stopped. After playing and conducting bells as a student at St. Olaf College, I moved to Milwaukee in 2008. I currently work at a bank and am the Handbell Director at Fox Point Lutheran Church. I am currently finishing up a Masters of Church Music at Concordia in, what else? Handbells! In my spare time, I enjoy exploring all the city has to offer, cheering on the Brewers, and hanging out with my dog, Luther.
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Jason Lewerenz, 2012I started ringing handbells at Concordia University for the Alleluia Ringers under the direction of Dr. Behnke. I was a part of the Alleluia ringers for five years and have played bells in Germany among other foreign lands. Playing bells keeps me busy until baseball season arrives.
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Joshua Moeller, 2012I was born ready to ring and began playing with my home church, Trinity Lutheran in Roselle, Illinois. I continued to play for the Alleluia Ringers during my time at Concordia University and graduated in December of 2012 with a degree in Lutheran education. I received and accepted my first call to teach at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with School in Delavan. I love baseball and have visited every MLB stadium.
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Kristine Morano, 2006I started playing handbells in 1994 with the handbell choir at St. John's Lutheran Church in Port Washington. While attending Concordia University for music education, I was a five-year member of the Alleluia Ringers. I now live in Fredonia and enjoy spending time with my husband, Tom, and daughter, Mikayla.
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Amy Mrosko, 2014I fell in love with handbells during my time with the Alleluia Ringers as a student at CUW and have since enjoyed directing choirs at different churches. I'm thrilled to be back in the Milwaukee area and to have the chance to ring with such a fabulous choir! My time stays filled homeschooling five fabulous kids.
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Stacey Nordmeyer, 2015I have loved handbells for as long as I can remember and am thrilled to be a part of MHE! I learned to ring in 5th grade, rang all through high school, and toured with my choir both my junior and senior years. After that, I began solo ringing and working with the chime choir at my church. Now, I direct the bell choir at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Brookfield, where I’m also active in the music ministry, and I’m the Church Choral Editor for Hal Leonard Corporation. I’m married to Kevin, mom to Ryan, and in my spare time I enjoy traveling, reading, hiking, geo-caching and counted cross-stitch.
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Carl Reyes, 2011I am the Director of Liturgy and Music at St. Stephen Church, Oak Creek, where I direct vocal and handbell programs. A former music teacher, I have taught all ages in schools and community parks and recreation programs. A transplant from Michigan after having performed with 'Classical Bells' of Detroit for ten years, I've enjoyed ringing with MHE and as a solo handbell performer for over 30 years. A resident of Bay View, I love gardening at home, church and for MKE Parks and Rec. as well walking my dog, Buster, in my neighborhood. In 2013, my nine siblings and I traveled to Malta to discover our roots.
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Jennifer Scheler, 2003-2012, 2015I was first introduced to handbells in elementary school, continued ringing with the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University, and was a charter member of MHE in 2003. Over the years, I have also been both ringer and director in church handbell choirs. As an agent with American Family Insurance, I have the privilege of protecting and restoring dreams in Wisconsin and neighboring states. I currently live in Pewaukee with my husband, Alex, and we have three grown children, all bell ringers.
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Rachel Strand, 2006I joined MHE shortly after graduating from Concordia University of Wisconsin where I rang with the Alleluia Ringers for four years. Although my full-time job is being a stay-at-home Mom to my two children, Silas and Leah, I am also the handbell director at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Mequon. My husband, Carl, and I are caretakers on the farm where we reside. Besides music, I enjoy photography, gardening, organizing, spending time with family and friends and volunteering my time at church and within the community.
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Katie Wierer, 2008I began playing handbells in grade school and became hooked when I had the privilege of playing with the Alleluia Ringers at CUW. After playing with the Madison Area Concert Handbells while away at school, I returned home to Milwaukee and began working at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as a pharmacist. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Jay, and children, Ellie, Josie and Theo, reading and playing with our two pet rabbits.
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Heide Young,2014
I have been playing handbells as long as I can remember—since sometime in elementary school. I’ve played and directed church handbell choirs in Michigan (where I grew up), St. Louis and also in California at Concordia University, Irvine. I’m currently a music teacher at Grace Lutheran School in Menomonee Falls. My husband Michael and I have three kids, and when I’m not playing handbells or flute, I enjoy hiking, shopping and dog agility.
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Former Ringers
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* Founding Member
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^ Current Member
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2003-2004Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Lauren Delancy * Jarrod (JR) Fenner * Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Iris Jastram * Shelley Lund * Michael Moeder * Jennifer Scheler *^ Karen Stabelfeldt * Kimberly Williams * |
2004-2005Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Lauren Delancy * Patrick Delancy Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Iris Jastram * Shelley Lund * Jennifer Scheler *^ Karen Stabelfeldt * Melodee Vogt Kimberly Williams * |
2005-2006Allison Bessert
Karla Bessert * Tracey Bowers *^ Karen Canapa Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Jennifer Scheler *^ Karen Stabelfeldt * Melodee Vogt |
2006-2007Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Erin Junger Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Melodee Vogt |
2007-2008Karla Bessert *
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Erin Junger Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Melodee Vogt |
2008-2009Beth Bawden
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Michael Grosnick Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Erin Junger Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2009-2010Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Michael Grosnick Shannon Grosnick Suzanne Hibbard *^ Corey Janssen Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2010-2011Ken Blake
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Laura Ellwein Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Michael Grosnick Suzanne Hibbard *^ Penny Kindraka Shelley Lund * Joshua Moeller ^ Kristine Morano ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2011-2012Ken Blake
Tracey Bowers *^ Linda Carlson *^ Debbie Frick * Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Penny Kindraka Jana Larson ^ Kristine Morano ^ Carl Reyes ^ Anne Reynolds Jennifer Scheler *^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ |
2012-2014Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson *^ Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Penny Kindraka Jana Larson ^ Jason Lewerenz ^ Joshua Moeller ^ Kelli Moeller Kristine Morano ^ Carl Reyes ^ Anne Reynolds Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ Gwen Wiethorn |
2014-2016Tracey Bowers *^
Linda Carlson*^ Kaethe Grabenhofer *^ Suzanne Hibbard *^ Joshua Kramer Jana Larson ^ Jason Lewerenz ^ Jennifer Scheler *^ Joshua Moeller ^ Kristine Morano ^ Amy Mrosko ^ Stacey Nordmeyer ^ Carl Reyes ^ Rachel Strand ^ Katie Wierer ^ Heide Young ^ |
2016-2018Tracey Bowers *
Linda Carlson* Kaethe Grabenhofer * Jamie Haack Suzanne Hibbard * Jana Larson Jason Lewerenz Jennifer Scheler * Joshua Moeller Kristine Morano Amy Mrosko Stacey Nordmeyer Carl Reyes Rachel Strand Katie Wierer Heide Young |