WELOVEHANDBELLS
United in Bronze and Genesis Ringers Handbell Choirs
UNITED IN BRONZE
Meet our Ringers
LORNA WALKER
Director
Other Positions Played: Small bells, 4-in-hand, other places as needed
Years with UIB: 25+
Years playing handbells: 25+
Favorite Song: Reflections of Peace
"A favorite memory was travelling with United in Bronze to the Ringing Link handbell conference in Pentiction, BC."
~Lorna
KIRKLAND MORRILL
G6 to C7
Other Positions Played: 4-in-hand, B4 / C4
Years with UIB: 5+
Years playing handbells: Played for a year in elementary, so 6+
Favorite Song: Stairway to Heaven
" I played in the handbell choir at the Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School."
~Kirkland
LEANNE OUIMET
(also currently plays with Genesis)
Other Positions Played: E6 / F6
Years with UIB: 3+
Years playing handbells: 5+
Favorite Song: Singing in the Rain
" It's been wonderful to have the opportunity to make music with hard-working, creative people. I love working through difficult songs to polish a fantastic finished product. Bells are my happy place!"
~Leanne
JUDI FLORENCE
C6 / D6 & D7
Other Positions Played: E6 / F6, E7 / F7
Years with UIB: 26+ (yikes! I expect a pension any day now)
Years playing handbells: 26+
Favorite Song: Fantasy on Kingsfold
" We used to do litte tours around the province. One year we went to Jasper and played at Jasper United Church and Jasper Park Lodge, right in front of the big fireplace. We played for a free buffet lunch."
~Judi
CATHY ADAMS
A5 / B5
Other Positions Played: D4 / E5
Years with UIB: 3+
Years playing handbells: 3+
Favorite Song: I like most of the pieces we play.
" At a performance if you see me pressing my lips together I’m not mad just trying not to count moving my lips."
~Cathy
CONNIE POON
F5 / G5
Other Positions Played: None
Years with UIB: 4+
Years playing handbells: 4+
Favorite Song: Stairway to Heaven
" I love playing together as a team to make beautiful music. I also love doing outreach like doing the flash mob, playing in Senior Homes, and at the Snowflake Festival."
~Connie
KATRINA NELSON
D5 / E5
Other Positions Played: G3, A3 / B3
Years with UIB: First year
Years playing handbells: 4+
Favorite Song: Celebration
"I currently play with another ensemble, The Christ Chruch Ringers, under the direction of Debbie Rice."
~Katrina
KAREN ENS
B4 / C5
Other Positions Played: E6 / F6
Years with UIB: 18+
Years playing handbells: 25+
Favorite Song: Fantasy on Kingsfold
" I enjoyed getting to know my stand partners before COVID guidelines were implemented. The handbell group is a wonderful supportive group, and I really missed it when we were shut down due to COVID. "
~Karen
KAREN ABRAHAMSON
G4 / A4
Other Positions Played: E4 / F4, G6 / C7
Years with UIB: 20+
Years playing handbells: 20+
Favorite Songs: Fantasy on Kingsfold, Hallelujah, Fly Me to the Moon
"I love all the variety of performances we've done over the years -- Snowflake Festival, Arden Theatre, Bells and Dessert Evenings etc."
~Karen
RHEA OLSON
E4 / F4
Other Positions Played: Many, mostly in the bass clef
Years with UIB: 3+
Years playing handbells: Many
Favorite Song: Siyahumba
"I am much more comfortable reading the treble clef so playing in the base clef is a challenge for me, I try my best but it is always fun! "
~Rhea
HOLLY PARKER
C4 / D4 (also currently Director of Genesis)
Other Positions Played: All bell positions except G6 / C7
Years with UIB: 29+
Years playing handbells: 30+
Favorite Song: Fantasy on Kingsfold
"A favorite memory of mine is the fun of ringing together and the satisfaction, in either choir, of working on a piece and turning it into beautiful music."
~Holly
ALISA BOLSTER
Big Bass Bells (also currently plays with Genesis)
Other Positions Played: None
Years with UIB: 3+
Years playing handbells: 4+
Favorite Songs: Don't really have one
"A favorite memory is seeing the look on the faces of the congregations when we are playing."
~Alisa
KATHIE ZALASKY
Sub
Other Positions Played: Any as needed
Years with UIB: 25+
Years playing handbells: 25+
Favorite Song: Emma's Song
SARAH CARTER
Sub
Other Positions Played: E4 / F4
Years with UIB: 8+
Years playing handbells: 8+
Favorite Song: Hallelujah
"Small bells are too loud, big bells are too heavy. I like the ones in the middle!!"
~Sarah
STACY GIROUX
Social Media Manager and Sub
Other Positions Played: D5 / E5, E4 / F4, Big Bass Bells
Years with UIB: 13+
Years playing handbells: 13+
Favorite Song: Fantasy on Kingsfold
"This choir means so much to me. I'm a science nerd that they took a chance on. They taught me to read music and gave me the gift of becoming a performer. Being part of this group has been a transformational experience for me."
~Stacy
IN THE COMMUNITY
Raising the Bar
NOMINEE CITY OF ST. ALBERT MAYOR'S CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
2020 / 2022
With thanks to the City of St. Albert for the photo.
NOMINEE CITY OF ST. ALBERT MAYOR'S CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
2019 / 2020
With thanks to Tim Osborne Photography for the photo.
NOMINEE CITY OF ST. ALBERT MAYOR'S CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
2018 / 2019
With thanks to Tim Osborne Photography for the photo.