by P.L. Grove, President
HMA National Board of Directors
On behalf of the national board of directors, I am pleased to announce the results of our recent National Board and Bylaws election.
Greig Ashurst, President-Elect
Tracey Bowers, At-Large Director
Gillian Erlenborn, At-Large Director
These new members will begin their 6-year term on October 1, joining continuing board members Jill Fedon, who will take the role of board president, and at-large members Bill Mathis, Linda Minnotte, and Kyle Webber.
In addition, the National Bylaws amendments passed with overwhelming support. More than 90% voted in favor of adopting the changes. You can see the new bylaws document in the Board Governance section of our member site at https://handbellmembers.org/hma-governance/
Meet the New President-Elect
For nearly thirty years, GREIG ASHURST has developed an impressive career in many facets of music, technology, and educational philosophy across America. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, he has served as a music educator in public and private schools and universities in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas. Currently, Mr. Ashurst is Instrumental Music Director and Technology Director at Cathedral-Carmel School where he was selected as the 2016-2017 “Teacher of the Year”, an honor for which he was selected twice previously in Louisiana and North Carolina.
Greig also serves as Youth Music and Instrumental Director and staff arranger at Asbury UMC of Lafayette, Louisiana. Mr. Ashurst maintains a very industrious schedule as a guest conductor/clinician, performer, and consultant throughout the United States in music and technology.
Meet the New At-Large Directors
TRACEY BOWERS started ringing bells over 30 years ago in grade school. She continued ringing throughout high school and college joining the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University Wisconsin under the direction of Dr. John Behnke. After taking a master class in handbell conducting, Tracey directed a local church handbell choir for a number of years. While gaining the experience of conducting, she prefers to be behind the table ringing the bells and making music.
Tracey has been able to continue ringing as a founding member of the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble (MHE). As part of MHE, Tracey has rung for many years with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for their Holiday Pops concerts. Her handbell ringing has taken her across the US and around the world to five other countries. While ringing with MHE, she rang in the closing concerts for the Area 7 conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 2016 and the HMA National Conference in Grand Rapids in 2018. Tracey is an accounting manager at a private company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also enjoys planning events such as festivals and workshops.
GILLIAN ERLENBORN has been serving as the handbell choir and children’s choir director at Middlebush Reformed Church in Middlebush, New Jersey, since 2013. She is also the Choral Director and Musical Theatre Teacher at Frelinghuysen Middle School, in Morristown, New Jersey, teaching over three hundred students from diverse social and economic demographics. Gillian graduated from Westminster Choir College in 2018 with both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Gillian began ringing under the direction of Shelley Giaier when she was in the third grade and has not put her bells down since. In high school, she rang with and was assistant director for Impulse Handbell Ensemble. Upon entering Westminster Choir College, Gillian rang in and became the graduate assistant of the Westminster Concert Handbell Choir under the direction of Kathy Ebling Shaw. She has enjoyed participating and volunteering in various national and area events, including serving as the event chair for the annual College Ring-In. Gillian’s energy and unique perspective of the world of handbells makes her a strong candidate for a role on the national board.
Congratulations and welcome to our newest board members.
Sincerely,
Pamela “P.L.” Grove, President
Handbell Musicians of America National Board of Directors
by P.L. Grove, President
HMA National Board of Directors
On behalf of the national board of directors, I am pleased to announce the results of our recent National Board and Bylaws election.
Greig Ashurst, President-Elect
Tracey Bowers, At-Large Director
Gillian Erlenborn, At-Large Director
These new members will begin their 6-year term on October 1, joining continuing board members Jill Fedon, who will take the role of board president, and at-large members Bill Mathis, Linda Minnotte, and Kyle Webber.
In addition, the National Bylaws amendments passed with overwhelming support. More than 90% voted in favor of adopting the changes. You can see the new bylaws document in the Board Governance section of our member site at https://handbellmembers.org/hma-governance/
Meet the New President-Elect
For nearly thirty years, GREIG ASHURST has developed an impressive career in many facets of music, technology, and educational philosophy across America. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, he has served as a music educator in public and private schools and universities in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas. Currently, Mr. Ashurst is Instrumental Music Director and Technology Director at Cathedral-Carmel School where he was selected as the 2016-2017 “Teacher of the Year”, an honor for which he was selected twice previously in Louisiana and North Carolina.
Greig also serves as Youth Music and Instrumental Director and staff arranger at Asbury UMC of Lafayette, Louisiana. Mr. Ashurst maintains a very industrious schedule as a guest conductor/clinician, performer, and consultant throughout the United States in music and technology.
Meet the New At-Large Directors
TRACEY BOWERS started ringing bells over 30 years ago in grade school. She continued ringing throughout high school and college joining the Alleluia Ringers at Concordia University Wisconsin under the direction of Dr. John Behnke. After taking a master class in handbell conducting, Tracey directed a local church handbell choir for a number of years. While gaining the experience of conducting, she prefers to be behind the table ringing the bells and making music.
Tracey has been able to continue ringing as a founding member of the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble (MHE). As part of MHE, Tracey has rung for many years with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for their Holiday Pops concerts. Her handbell ringing has taken her across the US and around the world to five other countries. While ringing with MHE, she rang in the closing concerts for the Area 7 conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 2016 and the HMA National Conference in Grand Rapids in 2018. Tracey is an accounting manager at a private company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also enjoys planning events such as festivals and workshops.
GILLIAN ERLENBORN has been serving as the handbell choir and children’s choir director at Middlebush Reformed Church in Middlebush, New Jersey, since 2013. She is also the Choral Director and Musical Theatre Teacher at Frelinghuysen Middle School, in Morristown, New Jersey, teaching over three hundred students from diverse social and economic demographics. Gillian graduated from Westminster Choir College in 2018 with both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Gillian began ringing under the direction of Shelley Giaier when she was in the third grade and has not put her bells down since. In high school, she rang with and was assistant director for Impulse Handbell Ensemble. Upon entering Westminster Choir College, Gillian rang in and became the graduate assistant of the Westminster Concert Handbell Choir under the direction of Kathy Ebling Shaw. She has enjoyed participating and volunteering in various national and area events, including serving as the event chair for the annual College Ring-In. Gillian’s energy and unique perspective of the world of handbells makes her a strong candidate for a role on the national board.
Congratulations and welcome to our newest board members.
Sincerely,
Pamela “P.L.” Grove, President
Handbell Musicians of America National Board of Directors
