Ruth Nichols
Joined OCHE: January 2008- charter member
Total years ringing: 45 years
Favorite bell piece: That's a hard one, I love them all!! Probably the John Williams
medleys or other movie tunes.
Favorite bell technique: Four-in-hand
Favorite position to play: My very favorite one is B4/C5, next favorite is B6/7 and C7/8.
Worst part of ringing: Set up, tear down, and moving equipment
Best part of ringing: Making music with other people and making lots of new friends.
Why do you ring: Our church was given a 3 octave set of handbells, and I had
never heard of or seen handbells. I play clarinet and thought it
would be a fun instrument to learn. And here I am, still ringing
and directing.
Susan Paulk
Joined OCHE: Fall 2023
Total years ringing: 42 years
Favorite bell piece: I don't really have a favorite piece, but certainly my favorites are
the ones that really challenge me. I may not particularly like a piece, but sometimes there are different measures within that piece that I really love hearing.
Favorite bell technique: I don't have a favorite technique, but enjoy whatever is written on
the page and what brings out the intended emotion of the piece.
Favorite position to play: I typically ring 4 in hand (E-F 6&7) in my church choir. In OCHE
I've been able to move around to different positions, D5/E5, F5/G5, A5/B5, and B/C 6/7.
Worst part of ringing: There is no "worst" part about ringing, except maybe moving all
the equipment around. If I could twitch my nose and everything would be set up or put away, that would be a miracle!
Best part of ringing: Using many different techniques and hearing beautiful music, but
especially the challenge of sight reading.
Why do you ring: I first started playing bells because I loved the beautiful sounds
that came from them. I took piano when I was younger, so reading the music was very easy.
John Staton
Joined OCHE: Spring 2022
Total years ringing: 28 years
Favorite bell piece: Carol of the Bells
Favorite bell technique: Martellato
Favorite position to play: E4/F4
Worst part of ringing: Making enough marks on your music to be prepared for what
is coming next!
Best part of ringing: Making music collectively
Why do you ring: I was asked to conduct a choir at the church where I was the
organist.
Silver Woodbury
Joined OCHE: I was a charter ringer when the OCHE started in January 2008.
The founding director moved to Texas that summer, so I started directing the group and did so until August 2015 when I had to move to Kansas to help my family. While there, I was able to direct the handbell choir at the church where I first learned to ring! I was able to move back to Oklahoma City and rejoined the OCHE as a ringer in January 2023. I was asked to direct the group again in August 2023 and continue in that capacity. So, I have been involved with the OCHE for about 9 years, so far!
Total years ringing: About 35 years
Favorite bell piece: I have many favorites! It’s hard to pick just one! Probably the
most meaningful piece of bell music for me is Cathy Moklebust’s “Reflections on the Plains.” She wrote this 3-movement piece for the 1999 CORD (Central Oklahoma Ringers and Directors) handbell festival. It’s a beautiful tribute to Oklahoma with the first movement inspired by Sunrise and Wheatwaves, and the second movement based on the rodeo culture. The third movement is dedicated to those affected by the 1995 Murrah Building bombing and is very emotional for me. This movement has a hopeful ending as it reprises the Sunrise and Wheatwaves theme.
Favorite bell technique: That’s a hard choice, as well! My favorites are the echo
technique and the singing bell technique.
Favorite position to play: Over the years of playing in several choirs and serving as a
roaming substitute ringer, I can play any position in a 5-octave choir. Over the years of directing short-handed choirs, I have learned to ring and direct, as well. At my home church, I typically play 4th and 5th octave bass bells (C3-B3).
Worst part of ringing: The worst part of ringing is having to stop! Rehearsals and
concerts just can’t go on forever, so I look forward to the next time I can get bells in my hands again!
Best part of ringing: For me, the best part about ringing is working with the other
ringers. There is a special magic that happens when all the ringers are tuned into the music and each other. At those times, I can almost feel the music wash over me.
Why do you ring: My elementary school music teacher (who was also a neighbor)
began directing the bell choir at the Methodist church in my hometown. I had taken piano lessons from her after she retired from teaching and she thought I would enjoy ringing. She was so right!!
​
Joined OCHE: 2017
Total years ringing: 22 years
Favorite bell piece: Dorian Dance by Michael Joy
Favorite bell technique: Four-in-hand
Favorite position to play: Any of them
Worst part of ringing: Awkward page turns or mismatched gloves
Best part of ringing: Mastering a series of notes that are faster than you can think
about them, and yet your body learns what to do, and it works.
Why do you ring: It was something new to learn, and also looked really fun.
Patricia Boone
Joined OCHE: Fall 2023
Total years ringing: 45 years playing and/or directing
Favorite bell piece: Too many to mention
Favorite bell technique: Singing bells or vibrato choir chimes
Favorite position to play: C4-F4
Worst part of ringing: Ringing an F# and it was supposed to be an F!!
Best part of ringing: How 12-13 individuals can come together, ringing their individual
bells, and a beautiful piece of music merges.
Why do you ring: Was invited to ring at church and started directing in 1980
Joined OCHE: Fall 2011
Total years ringing: I have been ringing since the mid 1980s.
Favorite bell piece: Sing We Now of Christmas & Meditation on Beautiful Savior
Favorite position to play: Lower bells
Best part of ringing: The challenge of making music with a group.
Why do you ring: They needed another ringer & I could read music.
Brooke Calhoun
Joined OCHE: Fall 2011
Total years ringing: 17 years
Favorite bell piece: I Heard the Bells and Lo How a Rose. Other favorites are
Grazioso, The Swan (bell quartet), Le Miserables Melody, and Go the Distance (from Hercules).
Favorite bell technique: 4 in hand, suspended mallets, echo
Favorite position to play: E/F 6/7
Worst part of ringing: No bad parts! It is all fun!
Best part of ringing: It is fun and challenging.
Why do you ring: I first joined a church bell choir.
Sheila McLaughlin
Joined OCHE: 2013
Total years ringing: About 15 years
Favorite bell piece: My favorite music to play is Christmas music. Carol of the Bells
is always fun, as well as the slower, sweeter tunes like Silent Night or The Christmas Song.
Favorite position to play: I usually play the A/B5 position, and feel most at home in the
treble clef.
Worst part of ringing: The worst part has to be the late nights and finding time to
practice.
Best part of ringing: The best part of ringing is learning to read and play music
Why do you ring: I first joined a bell choir because I wanted to play an instrument
and only being responsible for 3 or 4 notes made handbells seem like an easy place to start. Though it hasn't always been easy, it's been very rewarding!
​
Kaite Weber
Joined OCHE: Fall 2023
Total years ringing: Too many to count!! On and off since 1992, starting in 6th grade, in
a college auditioned bell choir, and in various churches since then.
Favorite bell piece: The Marriage of Figaro
Favorite bell technique: Air mallets
Favorite position to play: In the middle! C5-C6
Worst part of ringing: weird time signatures
Best part of ringing: Fellowship and making beautiful music!
Why do you ring: My mom started a bell choir in my school, so I had to join. Playing
bells on Easter morning in high school was my favorite!
Kathy Austin
Joined OCHE:
Total years ringing: 30 years
Favorite bell piece: Stairway to Heaven
Favorite bell technique: four-in-hand
Favorite position to play: C/D 6/7
Worst part of ringing: Loading and unloading all of the equipment.
Best part of ringing: playing all different genres of music
Why do you ring: I loved hearing the bells when we joined our church!
Sara Cage
Joined OCHE: 2015
Total years ringing: Almost 30
Favorite bell piece: Passacaglia
Favorite bell technique: Mallet rolls
Favorite position to play: low bass
Worst part of ringing: carrying the low base cases (if you ring em, you carry em!)
Best part of ringing: getting lost in the music and escaping the rest of the surrounding
world
Why do you ring: My church choir needed another ringer and I was curious to learn
more… I’ve kept ringing because I continue to learn.
Cathy May
Joined OCHE: 2020
Total years ringing: I started playing bells in 1981 with my church handbell choir.
Favorite bell piece: Sleigh Ride and Easter Song
Favorite bell technique:
Favorite position to play: F5/G5 or D6/E6
Worst part of ringing:
Best part of ringing:
Why do you ring:
Marci Waguespack
Joined OCHE: 2009
Total years ringing: Over 35 years!
Favorite bell piece: I have way too many to choose one!
Favorite bell technique: The echo (womp womp)
Favorite position to play: 4 in hand B6/7 and C7/8 (or wherever I am playing)
Worst part of ringing: Maybe all the logistics of moving tables, stands, pads, cloths, bells,
chimes, mallets, music, ect.!
Best part of ringing: Hearing a piece really come together and played well by the whole
group!
Why do you ring: I loved the sounds of the bells!
Becky Johnson
Joined OCHE:
Total years ringing:
Favorite bell piece:
Favorite bell technique:
Favorite position to play:
Worst part of ringing:
Best part of ringing:
Why do you ring:
Matt Johnson
Joined OCHE:
Total years ringing:
Favorite bell piece:
Favorite bell technique:
Favorite position to play:
Worst part of ringing:
Best part of ringing:
Why do you ring:
​
Paula Fowler
Joined OCHE: 2024
Total years ringing: 25+
Favorite bell piece: How Great Thou Art
Favorite bell technique: Ringing & Malleting
Favorite position to play: Bass Clef
Worst part of ringing: Changing from bell to chime or mallet.
Best part of ringing: Learning new techniques and sounds.
Why do you ring: I enjoy making music and the challenge or rining.
