|
Lisa Traughber — Music Director
Lisa is the new Director of Opus Handbell Ensemble, following in the footsteps of recently retired Artistic Director, Richard Colla. Lisa, who accepted the Opus baton in June, also recently retired from Trinity United Presbyterian Church, where she served for 25 years as Executive Assistant of Publications, Communications and Graphic Arts. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Lisa has loved art and music since childhood. She began ringing in 1975, became a member of the national organization, Handbell Musicians of America, and was hooked for life! In Ohio Lisa directed high school and adult handbell choirs and obtained an Applied Business in Commercial Art degree from the University of Cincinnati. She came to California with her husband in 1990 and began ringing with Centenary United Methodist Church, and then the newly formed Opus Handbell Ensemble. Under the direction of retired Minister of Music, Richard Colla, Lisa participated in Trinity’s music ministry through choir, women’s ensemble and handbells since the early 90’s. She has also been director of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Mission Bells in Manteca since 2014. Lisa served as conference coordinator for Handbell Musicians of America Area 12, in 2016 and 2024. She has also sung with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus since 2000.
|
|
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—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 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 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 — Board Member
|
|
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—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 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 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.
|
|
|
