MVR’s Artistic Director is KAREN E. LEONARD. She is a graduate of Boston University and UMass Lowell with degrees in church music, organ performance and conducting. She is now in her 55th year as Minister of Music at West Chelmsford United Methodist Church in North Chelmsford, MA where she directs a choral and handbell program and also serves as organist. Karen served the Handbell Musicians of America, formally the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR), as Chair of Area I and National President. In 2008, she was awarded Honorary Life Membership in AGEHR, the highest award given for extraordinary service to the organization. She continues to serve as Coordinator of the National Master Classes in Conducting. Karen and her husband Mark have two wonderful sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and two awesome grandchildren.
LISA ARNOLD started ringing in 1976 with the Wesley Bell Ringers of Salt Lake City, UT, and has rung handbells in 49 states and 9 Canadian Provinces. Lisa then rang with Bay Bells in San Jose, CA, before moving to Massachusetts where she has rung with MVR since 2010. Now retired, she and her husband Charles use handbells as an excuse to travel and ring all over the world. She spends her free time learning Italian and riding bicycles. Lisa is currently the Past Chair of Area 1 of the Handbell Musicians of America.
CHUCK ARNOLD has been playing handbells for almost twenty years, starting out ringing for a church choir in Saratoga, California. A handbell tour of Italy with his wife Lisa convinced him of the power of handbells to connect with and entertain audiences. Since that trip, Chuck and Lisa have attended dozens of handbell events across the United States and performed several times in Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. In addition to performing for MVR, Chuck also rings for Hancock Carillon in Lexington, Massachusetts. When not playing handbells, Chuck enjoys travel (with or without handbells), bicycling, running, and flying.
DIANE BURKE was inspired to take up handbells by her mom over 30 years ago. She is proud to be the director of the Joyful Ringers at First Church Congregational in Marlboro, MA, the Lincoln Ringers of First Parish in Lincoln, MA, and the Sudbury Bellringers of Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MA. Beyond handbells, Diane’s other passions include gospel music, competing in ballroom dancing, and watching NFL football. Diane lives in Marlboro with her incredibly supportive husband Ron, tabby cat Perch, and several outdoor furry friends.
SUSAN CAPESTRO earned degrees from Ithaca College and Northwestern University. She teaches piano, vocals and composition, and conducts ensembles, including the Jubilee Ringers, at First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Bedford, MA. Susan is an eclectic award-winning composer who has toured with African musicians, performed with swing bands and symphony players, presented sessions at national conferences and contributed articles to magazines. When not hitched to a handbell or piano, she’s found swimming, traveling and enjoying life with her husband.
SUE CHAMBERLIN was introduced to handbells at a Christmas party in 1980 and has been ringing, directing, and teaching handbells ever since. Handbells have taken her to at least 12 states and 4 foreign countries as well as providing a second career as a Schulmerich sales representative after retiring from teaching math. Sue is an active member of Faith Community Bible Church where she directs two handbell choirs and a chime choir, working with ringers from age 4 to 80+. Sue enjoys many crafts, jigsaw puzzles, and loves spending time with her family, including 5 grandchildren. Sue and Doug are blessed to live on a beautiful lake in NH and enjoy riding bikes and travel.
MOLLY LAMSON made her singing debut in a kindergarten musical and has had a passion for music ever since! Molly has been singing forever, ringing since 1989, and with MVR since 2006. She even played handbells at the White House and piano at Carnegie Hall. You never know where music will take you! Molly also enjoys homeschooling her daughter, camping, hiking, traveling, photography, and anything creative. She loves living with her family in the White Mountains in Plymouth, NH.
LAURA LANGORD has been ringing since 2008 with various church choirs and is thrilled to be a new member of MVR! Having grown up in a musical family, Laura is a musician at heart and enjoys singing in choirs, as well as performing solo vocal works at local churches, and she’s also a closet pianist! An attorney by training, Laura manages contracts and collections for a national construction subcontractor, but her true passion is and always will be advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families. When she’s not ringing, singing, negotiating, or advocating, Laura is a devoted mom to her 2 precious daughters, Clara and Faith.
SUE LEE first rang and then directed handbells choirs at a previous church, and has been Director of Handbell Ministries at St. Matthew’s UMC, Acton, MA since 1998. After receiving an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Lowell State College, Class of ’67, Sue taught all levels of music, general, choral and instrumental, before getting her Masters in Elementary Education and becoming a fourth grade teacher, now retired. Other interests are playing her trumpet, euphonium, or baroque recorders, quilting, playing golf, traveling, reading, or just enjoying time with family and friends. She has two great sons, a delightful daughter-in-law, and two precious granddaughters, Hannah and Lizzy.
DIANA PARTON was asked in the early 1980s if she would like to be a “Ding-a-Ling.” So she joined the bell choir and life has never been the same. She has rung in bell choirs in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Maine. She sings in her church choir and rings in two bell choirs, is an aspiring solo ringer, and occasionally remembers her piano. A retired software engineer with degrees in English literature and computer science, she now enjoys being busy with church activities, quilting, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren.
STEPHEN PREVOST started ringing handbells about eight years ago when he raised his hand in response to his church music director’s request for a temporary, fill-in ringer…no experience necessary. He finds handbell ringing to be very rewarding in that it combines musicality and a good sense of rhythm and timing with the physicality of the bells themselves. A newcomer to MVR, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to play with this advanced ensemble. Recently retired, he enjoys reading, biking, hiking with Cooper, life with Rita, and visiting with his three grown children.
ANGELA QUATRINI is originally from the Chicago south suburbs, and has been playing bells and oboe since 2001. She received a bachelor’s Degree in Oboe Performance from Indiana University and a diploma in Instrument Repair from Minnesota State University Southeast in Red Wing. Her experience in oboe and woodwind repairs has led her to new opportunities in Massachusetts as a flute key maker at Burkart Flutes and Piccolos and as the manager of Harvard Double Reeds. Angela is excited that she could join MVR and continue ringing and learning more about the art of handbells. In her spare time, when not playing oboe or bells, Angela enjoys cooking, playing video games, playing on her numerous ocarinas, and working on music video collaborations with the online group, Shooting Star Ocarina.
CARLENE RUESENBERG started playing handbells in 2004 when she joined the South Congregational Church Memorial Bell Choir in Concord, NH and has been the director since 2014. Prior to joining MVR, she was a founding member of the Granite State Ringers, where she played for six years. She also directed choirs at the Lee Church Congregational for two years. In her day job, she is the Executive Assistant to Gary Hirshberg, co-Founder and Chief Organic Optimist of Stonyfield Farm yogurt. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, singing, and riding long distances on her bike.
CATHY SEILER started playing handbells in 1993 at Slatersville Congregational Church in Rhode Island where her mother directed the handbell choir. After a handbell hiatus during college and graduate school, Cathy joined the community handbell choir Campanillas del Sol in Scottsdale Arizona in 2009. After nine seasons with Campanillas and a cross-country move, Cathy joined MVR in 2018 and has loved every minute! Cathy has a PhD in cell and molecular biology and currently works as a scientist at a pharma company in Waltham. In her spare time, Cathy enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter hiking, camping, and exploring New England.
EVIE SESSIONS started ringing handbells in 1995. She was a member of many choirs in New York before moving to Boston and finding a home with MVR in 2013. She works as a program administrator and teaches professional writing at Brandeis University. When she’s not ringing, Evie enjoys hiking and indoor gardening.
JENNIFER STACK began playing handbells in 2012 at the invitation of a coworker and fell deep down the rabbit hole. When not ringing, Jennifer enjoys knitting and baking, and is a newly published author of several children’s books. She lives in Chelmsford with her husband Mike and their tuxedo cat Bronx. She works as a PreK teacher for Lowell Public Schools where she shares her love of books and music with her students.
JIM STRATTON has been playing handbells for more than 20 years. He’s been involved with music for most of his life, having played violin while growing up and then teaching himself guitar (and more recently, electric bass and ukulele.) Along with terrific son BJ (also in MVR) and wonderful wife Roberta (former MVR member), Jim rings with the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church’s Festival Ringers. When not rehearsing, Jim engages in user, system, and process support for a major insurance company.
KIMBERLY VARS WHITEHEAD began ringing bells as a teenager with her mom in the church bell choir and has been with MVR since (almost) the beginning! She has enjoyed serving churches, schools and community over the years but is now embarking on a new venture on her own! She loves travelling and being ‘Mom’ to Kyra, Isabelle & Marly is her favorite job of all!