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Membership:
  membership@baybells.org

A brief history of Bay Bells

Bay Bells was formed in 1986 by Cheryl Baker, reviving the name after an East Bay ensemble by the same name disbanded. The former Bay Bells Ensemble was directed by Sanford Dole from 1982-1985, and several of those members later became the nucleus of Oakland-based Sonos Handbell Ensemble, which formed in 1989. The new Bay Bells consisted of all new members and rehearsed first in Fremont, then at other locations in the South Bay and Peninsula, and now rehearses in Palo Alto, drawing its members from as far north as San Francisco and as far south as Morgan Hill. Bay Bells incorporated as a nonprofit musical ensemble in 2001. In June of 2004, Bay Bells acquired their very own five-octave set of Malmark bells.

Board of Directors

William Bryan Kyle, Music Director, was a ringer with Bay Bells from 1996-2001 and returned as its director in 2002, responsible for helping Bay Bells fulfill it’s mission with a focus on musical excellence, balanced with an understanding of individual learning opportunities. He has also rung with Velocity Handbell Ensemble and is the handbell director at Foothills Congregational Church. Mr. Kyle has composed many original works and arrangements for handbells and he serves as a clinician at local handbell events where he specializes in teaching applied technique. He is currently Chair of Area XII of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR).

Joni Ratts, President, has rung with Bay Bells since 2000. She also rings with Joyful Noise, the San Francisco State University handbell ensemble, and previously toured Cornwall, England with the New Wine Ringers of Sonoma.

Lisa Arnold, Vice President, has been ringing since she was 12 years old.  She toured 49 states and nine Canadian provinces with the Wesley Bell Ringers (WBR) of Salt Lake City, Utah, between 1979 and 1984.  She joined Bay Bells as a member of both the large and small ensembles in the fall of 2005. With a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management, she specializes in team facilitation and process improvement.

Kathy Arnold, Treasurer, has been a member of the Bay Bells Small Ensemble since 2002.  She immediately fell in love with the fun and outreach impact that the group had on their audiences. In addition, she rings at Sunnyvale Presbyterian and is treasurer for both Bay Bells and Area XII of AGEHR.

Karen Russell, Secretary, has been ringing with Bay Bells since the fall of 2005. She was first introduced to handbells in 1982 at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana.  After a 5-year break, she returned to ringing when she moved to northern California in 1989.  In addition to Bay Bells, she rings at Valley Presbyterian Church and has recently ventured into solo and duet ringing during worship.

Gretchen Rauch, Member-at-Large, joined Bay Bells in January 2004. A mallet percussionist since the fourth grade, she started ringing handbells in 1990. Ringing is a family activity -- both her husband and daughter ring with her in Praises Ring at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto, CA. As our resident Graphic Designer, she is responsible for the branding and image of Bay Bells. Gretchen is the editor of The Twelfth Tone, the AGEHR Area XII bi-monthly newsletter and serves on the Board of Directors for Area XII.

Kim Venaas, Member-at-Large, is our most recent addition to the Bay Bells Board of Directors. Mr. Venaas is the Conductor for the Peninsula Pops Orchestra (PPO). He brings a wealth of experience to our board through his work with the PPO, where he is responsible for guiding the PPO in fulfilling its mission through musical research, creative programming, selecting soloists and rehearsal preparations for each show. He graduated with honors from San Francisco State University with a degree in conducting and musical performance.