The Medallion Ringers
Handbell Quartet of Houston, TX
Featuring:
Christine Anderson, Director
Cindy Robinson, Angie Heston and Carol Kelly
The Medallion Ringers quartet originated at First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, in 1984 under
the direction of the group's founder, Christine Anderson. The other three members are Angie Heston,
Cindy Robinson and Carol Kelly.
For the non-ringer, beginning ringer, and even the seasoned ringer, observing this group can be truly
fascinating. Confirmed 'non-handbell' persons have been known to respond with appreciative enthusiasm
to the Medallion Ringers.
The group is rare in the handbell world, in that they perform without the use of the traditional padded handbell tables, electing instead to hold all the bells needed for each song in their hands – sometimes three in one hand and two in the other! Much of their repertoire is memorized, and the ladies enjoy interaction with their audience as they play.
In recent years, the Medallion Ringers have created a sensation in the handbell community while ringing concerts and performing in festivals. They have appeared throughout the nation, including Texas, California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, North and South Carolina and Ohio.
Acclaimed not only for their ringing, but also for contagious enthusiasm of their teaching, the members of the quartet have led classes in ensemble ringing for the national Director's Convention of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (Milwaukee, 1993) and as faculty members for Kay Cook's 1996 Handbell Exploration in Phoenix, Arizona. Additionally, they were clinicians for the Texas Baptist State Handbell Festivals (Dallas and Houston, 1996) and led in teaching roles for 1997 Music Week Conferences for both Glorieta Baptist Assembly (just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico) and Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly (Asheville, North Carolina). The group has conducted numerous workshops for enthusiastic ensemble ringers.
Travel abroad has included a three-week tour of Ukraine and Russia (August, 1995) where the handbell is virtually an unknown instrument. Overwhelming response in these formerly Communist-controlled countries made the quartet very popular everywhere it performed and their songs were described as "angel music." In the summer of 1996, the Medallion Ringers were featured throughout the country of Ecuador, performing in churches, malls, a naval base, and in concerts and videotaped television appearances. In 2000, the quartet journeyed to the Philippines where they played for hundreds of people throughout the islands, including a special vidieotaped appearance at a futuristic four-story mall located in Davou. The Medallion Ringers are pleased to announce the release of their first CD, "Merrily on High" which features music for the Christmas season. You may order CD's from Christine at Email Christine