The Magic of Bronze  ~  A Central Florida Community Handbell Ensemble
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Blanche Marie Lewis, Director

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Blanche Marie first worked with handbell choirs as the flute soloist while pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance at Florida Southern College.  After finishing a Masters degree in Music Therapy at Florida State University, getting married, and settling in Central Florida, she began playing handbells in her church choir,  Since then, Blanche Marie has directed a variety of handbell ensembles in Central Florida, rung in small ensembles, performed solo bell pieces, and served as a handbell clinician and workshop leader in area events.  She enjoys arranging handbell pieces and has published a collection of handbell inspired poetry entitled "belle bon mot".  Blanche Marie has earned the AGEHR title of "Certified Handbell Director".  In addition to directing the Magic of Bronze, Blanche Marie is the handbell director at Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry, Florida.  Blanche Marie also teaches private lessons in flute, beginning piano, and handbells.

Rhonda Meyers, President

Rhonda is a charter member of the Magic of Bronze.  She rang bells for five years in the youth choirs of her childhood church in the small town of Clarkston, Michigan.  For six years, Rhonda rang with the Carillon Handbell Choir of Grace United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, Maryland prior to moving to Central Florida in 1993.   In 1995, she was instrumental in starting the handbell music ministry and directed the 3-octave Carillon Ringers Handbell Choir ad University Carillon United Methodist Church where she occasionally rings solo.  Rhonda's musical background includes piano, oboe, and singing.  Rhonda is employed by the U.S. Army where she is a cost analyst.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Office Administration from Michigan State University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Webster University.  While she eagerly awaits the return of her husband  Dave, who is deployed in Iraq, Rhonda enjoys sewing, baking, gardening, and being a grandmother.

Sally Spatafore, Vice-President/Events Coordinator

Sally joins the Magic of Bronze from Central Illinois where she rang  for eleven years in two churches.  Sally has a degree in music education from Illinois State University.  She is enjoying her newest adventure:  being retired!

Jan Reker, Treasurer

Jan is a charter member of the Magic of Bronze.  She has been involved in music as a piano and harpsichord player, ballet accompanist, woodwind instrument player, and board member of music organizations.  She was a musician with the UCF Early Music Ensemble and accompanied many Shakespeare plays.  Currently, she rings handbells at Winter Park Presbyterian Church.  Jan enjoys nature and is involved with the Winter Park Garden Club.  She is also an avid race-walker and quilter.

Deb Holloway, Secretary


Ariel Curl

Ariel has been ringing with the Magic of Bronze since 1999.  Her musical background includes piano and oboe.  She has sung with the Bach Festival Choir, the Sweet Adelines Sound of Sunshine Chorus, and also appeared in the Central Florida Civic Theater production of the musical "Lil Abner".  Ariel has an undergraduate degree in nursing,  a Bachelor's degree in English for the University of Toronto, and a Master's degree in teaching.  She is a retired operating room nurse, having enjoyed a variety of roles in the operating room, including clinical instructor.  Ariel is a proud mother and grandmother and enjoys traveling.

Alan Davis

Alan is a Winter Park native and has been a member of the Magic of Bronze since August 2006.  He has been ringing in church choirs for over twenty years.  During the day, he is a Computer Systems Analyst for Convergys Corporation, where he he has been working for more than twenty five years.  Alan has a Bachelor of Music degree in horn performance from Louisiana State University, a Master of Music degree in horn performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida.  Alan plays horn in the Bach Festival Orchestra of Winter Park, the Space Coast Pops Orchestra, and in the Walt Disney World Candlelight Processional at EPCOT.  Alan is married to Susan Davis, who is also a member of the Magic of Bronze.

Susan Davis

Susan joined the Magic of Bronze in August of 2006.  She has taught  music at Park Maitland School since 1991 and has worked in church music for over thirty years. Susan plays flute and piccolo with the Florida Space Coast Pops Orchestra and she works as a freelance flutist in the Central Florida area.  Susan holds a Bachelor of Music degree in multiple woodwinds and a Master of Music degree in flute performance from Louisiana State University.  She and her husband, Alan, have three grown daughters who are also active musicians. 

Bruce Krupinski

Bruce joined the Magic of Bronze in September of 2010. 

Anne Van Landingham

Anne has been ringing handbells for 10 years at Ascension Lutheran Church, Casselberry. She directs the Epiphany Bell Ringers at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Oviedo and joined the Magic of Bronze as a ringer in September of 2010.  Anne is a registered nurse with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of  Phoenix and currently is a nursing instructor at Orlando Tech.  She is also the wife of a supporting husband, mother of three grown, wonderful children and a three time grandmother who loves to spoil her grandchildren.

Former Ringers

Allaback, Julie
Auman, Judy
Bowles, Andrea
Burt, Andrea
Cooley, Rachel
Cuny, Mary Jo
Eaton, Cheryl*
Gilman, Penny
Goodwin, Diane
Gonzalez, Angie
Graham, Natalie
Graham, Sue
Guedes, Carol
Holten, Joanne
Hunt, Jennifer
Irwin, Dana
Larson, Andy
Larson, Barbara
Lewis, Mark
Looney, Carolyn
Lovett, Laura
Mathis, Maryann
McBrayer, June
McDonnell, Ruth *#
Newman, Susan
Owens, Tammy
Pike, Stephanie
Piper, Julie
Powell, Abby
Precht, Amy
Ritter, Nancy *
Smith, Shirley
Valiukonis, Joyce
Warren, Lynn
White, Donalline
Wittcop, Melissa


*denotes founding member
# denotes former director
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