Members

Ellie Hodder, Artistic Director, holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Crane School of Music, an advanced teaching certificate from New York State and Master of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in composition from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She begins a new role as Director of Music Ministries at Murray Hills Christian Church in Beaverton after 15 years as Director of Handbells at First Unitarian Church, Portland. Ellie is founder of the Pacific NW Handbell Directors Forum and the Pacific NW Youth Handbell Festival. Ellie is the Founding clinician for Coppers Classic, an all-ringing event designed for intermediate, coppers level handbell musicians. She currently serves as the Area 10 Handbell Musicians of America Membership Coordinator and is a frequent clinician at event throughout the country.

Kim Bible I learned to read music and play the piano at a young age. I didn’t like to practice so I tried guitar. I still didn’t like to practice so I played drums/percussion in high school. I heard bells for the first time at Newberg Friends Church around 2000.  It was love at first sight and I knew I had to ring those bells!  It is everything that I love, challenging and fun all at the same time.  It brings me joy to ring and hope it brings joy to others at the same time. I work as an accountant because counting is very important when you play bells.

Patty Boyd has been a lifelong musician, playing cello and flute from childhood into her college years. Her creativity moved from music to her profession, becoming a physical therapist working with medically involved children in school settings. Patty was hooked on handbells from her first ring over 10 years ago, and she enjoys bouncing around the choir playing in different positions.

Melinda L. Chandos is back as a full member of Pacific Ringers.  She completed four years as a ringer with First Unitarian Church handbell ensembles and can often be spotted trekking around town with her musical 6-year-old daughter.  Though encouraged to try all the bells, she is firmly fond of the B4/C5 position (middle C) “because it’s always in the middle of the action.” We’ll see how that plays out this season!

Joann Dixon began ringing handbells in Portland in 1994, where she learned to love the instrument. Returning to the Portland area in 2007, she began ringing again, and plays with the Handbell Choir at the Sunnyside Adventist Church in Southeast Portland. She also plays in a Handbell Quartet and Duet, is a longtime member of the church’s Music Committee, plays percussion in the Sunnyside Symphony Orchestra, Brass Choir, and other groups at the church that may need percussionists.

Jenni Embury  joined Pacific Ringers in 2018 to gain a better understanding of music and to learn about making music with a dynamic group of musicians. She has gained an appreciation for percussion instruments through years of listening to disco, soul, jazz and house music. Her other musical interests include playing cowbell and singing karaoke.

Anne Gire (aka “Arnold”) joined Pacific Ringers in 2014 and has been improving her ringing abilities ever since! She enjoys how fun the ensemble is and likes bringing skill and creativity into making music with others. Anne played some piano growing up and has always been fascinated by the human brain’s musical abilities and anticipations. Music is a great way of learning!

Emily Jo JensenMusic has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Accompanying others and being part of a musical ensemble has always been my preferred performance mode. Being a part of Pacific Ringers continues to afford me that opportunity. Though no longer the “newbie” of the group, I continue to face the challenges of an adult learner. Thank you fellow Pacific Ringers for your patience and encouragement. It is a privilege to be a part of this intergenerational ensemble.

Ann Pomazal began playing handbells in 2007 and joined Pacific Ringers in 2010, when the ensemble featured five musicians. She is currently the  ringing member of the ensemble with the longest tenure. As our ensemble has grown, so has Ann’s handbell musicianship and love of the instrument. She is also a member of Parker Bells with First Unitarian Church in Portland.

Ellie Pomazal (aka, “Dragon”) is the youngest member of Pacific Ringers. Ellie brings 10 years of experience playing handbells and handchimes to the group.  Ellie also plays tenor sax in her high school Wind Ensemble & Jazz Band. In 2016, she was part of a youth international handbell choir at the International Handbell Symposium in Vancouver, B.C.

Sharon Ross joined Pacific Ringers in 2014. A lifelong musician playing oboe with the Beaverton Symphony and jazz saxophone occasionally, she was first introduced to bells in the mid 80’s at St Matthew Lutheran Church in Beaverton. She currently plays with a fabulous group at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portland. Bells occupy a special place in her heart with the close relations it kindles and the special camaraderie it takes for 13 people to play one instrument. Music is fun, best shared, and a hoot when making the bells sing

Nathan Sanders has been fascinated by bells of all types since childhood. In graduate school, he studied carillon with a carillonneur from The Netherlands. As a church organist, he often heard the sweet sounds of handbells competing with him while he practiced for Sunday services.  Nate now rings handbells as often as he can, including those of other ringers standing nearby.  Nate is organist at First Baptist Church and St. Luke Lutheran Church, a retired attorney, proud dad of two adult children, and ‘gramps’ to grandson Tannin.

Alumni:  Dan Anajovich, Karen Bartley, Sarah Bouwkamp, Kate Coates, Chris Farlow, Ellen Good, Kelli Oates Griffith, Betty Harter, Marisa Johnson, Nancy Johnson, Susan Johnson, Pat Klum, Barb Lary, Marisa Johnson, Debra Mikkelsen, Letty Phillips, Allison Titus, Nadine Whitfield, Lyzi Diamond, Eidan Bray