Opus Members

Lisa Traughber

Lisa Traughber — Music Director

     Originally from Cincinnati Ohio, Lisa began ringing in 1975 and was hooked for life! She came to California in 1990 and met Bobbie Young, a retired Opus ringer, who introduced her to the handbell choir at Centenary United Methodist Church. She attended one of Opus’ first concerts, and met its founder, Terry Halvorson, whose talent and enthusiasm for bell ringing was the challenge she was looking for. She is a Graphic Artist for Trinity United Presbyterian Church, and is a member of the Modesto Symphony Chorus and Chamber Ensemble. In her spare time she enjoys bike riding, swimming, the classical art of dressage and antique carriage driving. Lisa began as the Music Director for Opus in August, 2024.
Judy Aprile

Judy Aprile

     Judy’s love of music began with piano lessons when she was five-years-old. Since then she has accompanied choral and instrumental groups, taught early childhood music education, given private piano lessons, directed children’s choirs at church and school, as well as being a 4th grade teacher for the past 23 years. Judy started playing handbells in 1997 and loves being an integral part of an ensemble of musicians.
Barbara Bort

Barbara Bort—Board Historian

     Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Barbara started her music training at the age of five. She has BME and MA degrees from Andrews University in Michigan. After moving to California, she played cello with the Modesto Symphony for several years, while teaching private piano and organ lessons. For 26 years Barbara taught second or third grade in the Ceres School District. Now that she is retired, she enjoys teaching lessons and reading. She is head organist for her church, where she also plays in the handbell ensemble. Barbara and her husband Marvin enjoy travelling, when they can get away from their responsibilities in Modesto.
Darin Brown

Darin Brown

     Darin is a Manteca native who began learning music with piano lessons at the age of five. He was first introduced to handbells in church at age ten. While studying keyboard and vocal performance as a music minor at Stanislaus State, he was invited by Terry Halvorson to join Opus, and he rang with Opus for three years. Upon returning to northern California, he was a substitute ringer for Opus for several years before again joining full-time in Spring 2017. He is currently the choir accompanist and substitute pianist/organist at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Manteca and plays in their Mission Bells. Darin is a mathematics professor at San Joaquin Delta College. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess, watching film noir movies, and following the San Francisco Giants.

Michelle Brown

Michelle Brown

     Michelle is a Manteca native and began her music education with piano lessons at the age of six. She learned to play the alto saxophone at 10 years old, and was also involved with choir and marching band throughout high school and college. Michelle was introduced to handbells through her church choir and has been an avid ringer ever since. Michelle was a frequent substitute ringer for Opus, and joined officially in the fall of 2016. She enjoys watching science fiction movies and caring for her two young children.






Susan Cole

     Susan joined Opus in Fall 2023.






Debi Dix

     Debi received her Bachelor of Music in flute performance from CSU Northridge. She completed her teaching credential from CSU Stanislaus. Debi retired from teaching instrumental music after 37 years with Turlock Unified School District. This is her 49th year playing flute with the Modesto Symphony. Debi started the MJC Suzuki flute program in 1981 and retired in 1996. Debi started ringing bells full time at Centenary United Methodist Church in 2018. She began ringing with Opus in Spring 2023.






Melanie Hildebrandt

     Melanie joined Opus in Spring 2024.

Trevor Hutton

Trevor Hutton — Board Member

Carl Morris

Carl Morris—Treasurer

Carl Morris has been playing handbells in church ensembles since 1990 and has rung bass bells with Opus since 2005. Carl also plays the clarinet and has sung in choirs almost his entire life. He is currently in the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus and in the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir. Professionally, Carl is a financial consultant and retired CPA and CFO.
Maggie Paton

Maggie Paton—Webmaster, Board Secretary

Maggie Paton needed a Fine Arts class in high school and chose "Introduction to Handbells" because it sounded fun and unique. She has now rung for over 14 years and has fallen in love with playing bells. In addition to Opus, Maggie has played for her high school's Advanced Ensemble, the Wisconsin Lutheran College Tower Ringers, and Madison Area Concert Handbells (Madison, WI). Besides being an avid choir ringer, Maggie likes playing small group and solo pieces. Maggie was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended college there. She also attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison for graduate studies in Computer Science. Maggie married her "graduate school sweetheart", Jim, in June 2014, and they moved to California together a month later. Maggie works as a software engineer and also enjoys reading, singing, and hiking. She directs and plays with the Laudate Ringers of St. Joseph Catholic Church / Mission San Jose in Fremont. She joined Opus in the fall of 2014.
Sally Price

Sally Price

Sally has been playing in the Opus Handbell Ensemble for more than 15 years. She was born in Stockton into an Air Force family and felt fortunate to live in many parts of the United States, as well as three years in England. She majored in Music and Psychology at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, then returned to California to earn a Masters in Education from Stanford. On June 1, 2013 she retired after 39 years as a music teacher for the Turlock Unified School District, specializing in guitar at the junior high and high school levels. Since her retirement, she has joined the Kichenaire Keynotes, a singing group, as well as the Funstrummers Ukulele Band, both of which perform regularly at various senior residences in the greater Modesto area. What a privilege to see the restorative power of music first hand on a weekly basis!

Melissa Shuler

Melissa returns to the tables in fall of 2024!

Lori Smith—Board Member

Lori discovered handbells at church during her high school days, and has enjoyed playing them through the years whenever they were available. Her background includes Dunaj International Dance Ensemble, Stockton Chorale, various church choirs, piano, clarinet, and guitar. She greatly enjoys travel, and has recently discovered the fun of working backstage in community theater. Last summer she sharpened her skills by attending a handbell workshop at the Zephyr Point Conference Grounds in Lake Tahoe, which reignited her passion for handbells. Most recently, she has helped revitalize the handbell choir at the Presbyterian church in Tracy, California.
Cindy Tinajero

Cindy Tinajero

     Cindy is originally from Santa Marla, California. She received her Bachelors of Music degree from Redding's Simpson University in 2009. There she joined the university handbell ensemble and discovered her love for the instrument. In August of 2016, Cindy moved to Modesto and began to teach music for elementary students in Patterson. She joined Opus in September of 2016. Outside of teaching music and playing handbells, Cindy likes playing her clarinet and board games - just not simultaneously!






Mary Wattenbarger

Mary returns to the tables in fall of 2024! She also played with Opus in 2023.






    


In memoriam
  • Will Aprile
  • Beth Clause
  • Lois Ertel
  • Lynn Ferrini
  • David Hardy
  • Margaret Squires Mooney
  • Bob Stewart
Special mentions and substitute ringers - thank you!
  • Michele Meenk
  • Bruce Merchant
  • Stephen Reddy
  • Burt Vasché
  • Polly Vasché
  • Sandi Walker-Tansley
  • Terry Halverson — Founding Member
Artistic Director Richard Colla lead Opus for 29 years (1995-2024). We thank you!