Carla began playing handbells in England in 1987 as a member of the Wokingham All Saints handbell group. She continued to perform with that group for more than twenty years, and also spent a number of years as a member of the South East Region Bell Orchestra, the Rowland Ringers Ensemble and Hurst Handbell Ringers.
In recent years, Carla has also been a member of Pizzazz Handbell Trio, representing the UK at a handbell festival in Tallinn, Estonia, and the Finchampstead group “Inspiration”, which was nominated for a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2012. Carla co-directed the Alleluia Ringers at Los Altos United Methodist Church, Los Altos, California until the summer of 2016. Her experience also includes performing at Distinctly Bronze West, the International Handbell Symposium (2008), and the Bay View Week of Handbells, plus many other events in the USA and in Europe. She currently is a member of the Kalamazoo Ringers, the longest-running bronze-level community handbell ensemble in the USA.
Carla moved from England to California in August 2012, but maintained her connection with the UK by her continuing involvement in “Inspiration International” – a project that continues the community work started by “Inspiration” and aims to take the music of handbells into the lives of the young and elderly in Berkshire, England.
Larry and Carla were married in 2012, and embarked on a new handbell adventure by creating new pieces for just eight bells. Their repertoire extends across the entire spectrum of hymns, classical music, Christmas carols, and folk music, and they continue to be surprised at just how many musical selections can be played using just eight notes.
In July 2016, Larry and Carla moved to Holland, Michigan, to start a new adventure there. They are available for concerts, weddings, corporate events, memorial services, church services, and other events in Michigan and beyond, and can also teach classes and workshops in various handbell techniques.
