Thank you for joining us this evening!
“There’s No Place Like Home” Tour Concert Program
Tonight’s performance will include selections from the below:
Procession in Bronze
/
Arnold B. Sherman
A Platinum Celebration
/
Brenda E. Austin
Flashdance What a Feeling
/
arr. Ron Mallory
Frolic Flight of the Hummingbird
/
arr. Kurt Meyer
For Good
/
arr. Sandra Eithun
Nexus
/
Matthew Compton
Home on the Range
/
arr. Sondra K. Tucker
Rewrite the Stars
/
arr. Brenda E. Austin
Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers
/
Matthew Compton
Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro”
/
transcribed by Brenda E. Austin
Celebration!
/
arr. Ron Mallory
About Embellish
Embellish Handbells is a premier handbell ensemble located in West Michigan.
Embellish rings seven octaves of Malmark handbells and chimes, as well as Silver Melody Bells and Petit & Fritsen bells, totaling over 200 bells and chimes. The fully loaded trailer weighs over 2400 pounds, so we literally have a “ton” of bells. A special thank you to our past Music Director Stephanie Wiltse for lending us an extra set of bells, and continuing to be our biggest fan!
If you would like to make a gift, you may give a donation using Paypal below. Embellish is a non-profit organization so your donation is tax deductible.
Brenda E. Austin
The Embellish Family is welcoming back Brenda to her second year as Music Director!
Brenda is a dynamic and energetic conductor, clinician, and composer, who has lead numerous festivals and workshops, both nationally and internationally. She has more than 100 titles (and counting) of published handbell and sacred choral works.
Embellish is thrilled to take part in debuting some of her compositions and arrangements during our concerts!
Meet Our Ringers
The handbell ringers who make up Embellish are a dedicated group of musicians who are committed to changing the world with handbells!
Nathan Biller
Year first joined: 2005
A hidden talent: Can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 3 minutes.
Debi Buer
Year first joined: 2019
Other instruments played: I’m learning to play the mandolin!
Russell Cooper
Year first joined: 1999
Other instruments played: Cajon, djembe, bodhran, trombone, all satisfactorily
Arianna Hiskes
Year first joined: 2018
The strangest food I enjoy: Cuy Chactado: Peruvian fried guinea pig. It’s better than it sounds!
Lauri Hoff
Year first joined: 2005
The strangest food I enjoy: Unusual but not strange: melted M&Ms. Microwave for 30 seconds. YUM!
Penny Kindraka
Year first joined: 2024
Other instruments played:
I’m a lyric coloratura soprano. “Voice” is certainly an instrument!
Laura Jen
Year first joined: 1999
Other instruments played: Cajon, djembe, bodhran, trombone, all satisfactorily
Julie Kruse
Year first joined: 2004
Other instruments played: Trombone for real; piano for fun. Plus car and shower singing! 🙂
Melissa Reiffer
Year first joined: 2002
Other instruments played: I’ve played the violin since I was 3 years old!
Cindy Reimink
Year first joined: 2012
A hidden talent: I don’t need a timer when I bake cookies. My nose knows.
Lisa Sandee
Year first joined: 2003
The strangest food I enjoy:
I don’t enjoy strange food. If it’s strange, it shouldn’t be eaten.
Hanna Schmiedeknecht
Year first joined: 2019
Other instruments played: I play percussion, piano, and sing (with range Tenor 1 to Soprano 1)!
Melanie Tolsma
Year first joined: 1997
The strangest food I enjoy: Boiled peanuts, especially at sporting events!
Russell Van Vlack
Year first joined: 2019
Other instruments played: Everything but the flute. I can’t play the flute. You’d only laugh.
Hannah Wheaton
Year first joined: 2018
Other instruments played: Getting back into piano has been one of my post-college projects 🙂
Dennis Willemsen
Year first joined: 2008
A hidden talent: I can avoid answering questions about myself in 70 characters or less.
Heather Willemsen
Year first joined: 2008
The strangest food I enjoy: Nerds Gummy Clusters – introduced to me at an Embellish snack time!
Dawn Franchetti
Year first joined: 2018
Other instruments played: Flute/piccolo, keyboard, percussion
Courtney Sheffer
Year first joined: 2016
The strangest food I enjoy: Thai food with ZERO spice (give me the flavor, but not the heat!)
