Meet the Crew

We hope to meet you soon!

Houston Bronze Board
Kathy Beaird, President
Jerry Conry, Vice President and Librarian
Linda Ellison, SecretaryWilson Van Tine, Treasurer
DruEllen Duncan, Member at Large
Michelle Shuman, Member at Large
Michael Petrus-Jones, Member at Large
Megan Staley, Member at Large

Meet our artistic Director

David York

Dr. David York, an accomplished director of many community-based groups — Pride Chorus Houston, David York Ensemble, Bells of the Cascades, Aurora Women’s Chorus, and Portland Boychoir to name a few — brings to Houston Bronze Ensemble a fascination for the blend of musicianship, collaboration, puzzle-solving, and coordination required for virtuosic handbell ringing. His combination of passion, patience, and high standards for excellence creates a rehearsal environment that asks much of its participants. Beyond aspiring to produce state-of-the-art handbell performances, he aims to find joy in every moment of the activity, and to celebrate the community in which we thrive.

Houston bronze ensemble

Kathy Beaird

 HBE President and Ensemble Member
Member 2016-present

Kathy Beaird is a native Aggie and USAF brat who is very active in her International School Bangkok alumni group, where she serves as president. Most of her childhood was spent on the beautiful beaches of Ft Walton Beach/Destin, FL, prior to her family living in exotic Thailand for two years. She began ringing handbells in 1989. She has been a member of HBE since January of 2016 and currently serves as president of the board of directors. After 21 years as a special educator, Kathy now works as a professional pet sitter in the Clear Lake area and is the human mom to fur kiddos Bette, Fanny, Lola, and Mabel. In those rare moments of unscheduled time she enjoys reading, tending to her flower beds, and watching Astros baseball.  

Jerry  Conry

HBE Vice President, Librarian, and Ensemble Member
Member 2004-present

Jerry Conry graduated from East Texas State University with a degree in Music Education and later returned to obtain a Master's in Business Administration. He began ringing handbells when he was 12 years old. He recently retired after 36 years with the Department of Defense which afforded him the opportunity to see the world.  During his career, Jerry lived and worked in the United Kingdom for 7 years, where he rang with the Hamilton Ringers who represented the UK in the opening ceremony of the International Handbell Symposium, performed at the Victoria and Albert Museum and appeared numerous times on BBC television. Jerry and husband Franki live in the Houston neighborhood of Somerset Green with their dog Ty, who flunked out of obedience school.

Dru ElleN duncan

Board Member at Large and Ensemble Member

Member 2017 - present

DruEllen Duncan has been ringing bells off and on for about thirty years.  For her real job, she is an elementary school teacher with Pearland ISD. She and her husband, Tim, are blessed to have two sons and a daughter-in-love. Her eldest son, Will, and his wife, Emma, live in Louisiana. They will soon welcome a baby boy to the family sending DruEllen into the fabulous grandmother status. Her youngest son, Robert, is living in Pearland, TX. The  furry children at the Duncan household are Blu, Pepper, and Missy. When she is not ringing bells, DruEllen can most likely be found at school, at home watching an Astros game, or running.

Tom Ellerbrock

Ensemble Member
Member 2008-2012, 2026
On leave, Fall 2026

Tom Ellerbrock rang with Houston Bronze in 2008-2013.  He took some time off to be with his family as his two sons progressed through junior high and high school, leading a very busy life of a proud band parent.  Tom is excited to rejoin the ensemble in the spring of 2026 and continue making music for everyone to enjoy.  He was a member of the University of Texas Longhorn Band from 1993-1998 and a section leader for the Drumline from 96-98.  When Tom is not engrossed in UT sports or marching with the UT Alumni Band each fall, his full-time profession is the Sr. Director of Engineering and Environmental for Next Wave Energy Partners in Houston.  He lives in Pearland with his wife, Patricia, enjoying empty nesting, taking trips, and watching movies at home.
 

Linda Ellison

HBE Secretary and Ensemble Member
Member 2011-present

Linda Ellison  graduated from The University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Music.  She retired from Alief Independent School District where she taught elementary and intermediate school music and private flute lessons. Linda and husband, Bob, have three grown children and six wonderful grandchildren.  She began ringing with Houston Bronze in January of 2011 and currently serves as Secretary on the board of HBE.  She has participated at Distinctly Bronze East and West, mass ringing events sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America and had the opportunity to be a ringer in Virtuoso, an event sponsored by Raleigh Ringers in North Carolina. She has also attended Bayview Week of Handbells directed by Fred Gramann in Bayview, Michigan. With her grandchildren spread about the country, she spends a lot of her at home time with bells in hand. 

Ensemble Member
Member 2017-present

J. Marvin Havard was introduced to handbells in 1984 and has been ringing or directing handbells almost every year since. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Delta State University (Cleveland, MS) with a focus in choral music and piano. He has served as organist and choir director at churches in Mississippi, Missouri, and Minnesota. After receiving his Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary (Dubuque, IA), Marvin was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He now serves as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire, TX. He is an avid reader and is always looking for the next great sci-fi/fantasy novel.

MATT hawley

Ensemble Member
Member 2015-2017, 2023-present

Matt Hawley graduated from Trinity University with a B.S. in Computer Science and has worked as a Software Engineer and a high school Mathematics teacher.  He started ringing as a sixth grader with his church and has not stopped, adding percussion, flute, vocal, and piano skills to his musical stockpile throughout his journey.  Matt also plays flute and piccolo for the Kingwood Pops Orchestra, and he enjoys combining his knowledge and passion for music with his experiences in Mathematics, Computer Science, Theology, and springboard diving.

Katherine Jolliff

Ensemble Member
Fall, 2026

Named one of The Diapason’s Top 20 Under 30 in 2023, Katherine Jolliff is pursuing a Master’s in organ performance at the Shepherd School of Music where she studies with Ken Cowan. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, she began piano studies at the age of five and started organ lessons with Marco Petricic during her freshman year of high school. She pursued her undergraduate degree at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of David Higgs. She has won numerous competitions, including the Regional Competition for Young Organists, the Taylor Organ Competition and both first prize and audience prize in the National Undergraduate Organ Competition in Ottumwa Iowa. She was introduced to handbells as a substitute ringer for the Alleluia Bells ensemble at Webster Presbyterian Church and later became the director of the Saint Anne Handbell Ensemble. Outside of music, Katherine enjoys training at the local aerial studio, where she practices and has taught trapeze, aerial silks, and lyra.

sarah Killingsworth

Ensemble Member
2021-present

Sarah Killingsworth is a licensed architect and Houston native who is active in her profession as a young professional and organizational leader. She enjoys many creative pursuits including  photography,  graphic design, dance, and music, and is a black cat enthusiast. Sarah has been ringing  with her home church of University Baptist Church in Clear Lake since childhood, and is a rookie  member of Houston Bronze in 2021. ​

Deb Koch

Ensemble Member
Member 2025-present

Deb Koch started as a child with piano and flute lessons.  She learned to play organ and handbells at Martin Luther College in Minnesota where handbells quickly became her favorite instrument.  She is an organist, pianist and handbell director at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Friendswood, Texas.  She's enjoyed teaching music to kids at her church's school.  She likes reading, bowling, gardening and going to the beach in her free time.

Kyle Maninantan

Ensemble Member
Member 2024-2025, 2026

Kyle Maninantan is excited to be back with the Houston Bronze Ensemble this season! He previously rang with the ensemble from 2024–2025 and is thrilled to return to such a dedicated and talented group of musicians. Having played handbells since 2018, he looks forward to another season of growth, collaboration, and meaningful performances with HBE.

Diana Montgomery

Ensemble Member
2021-present

Diana Montgomery was born and raised in Ohio but has lived in Texas for the last 39 years.  She is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in music education with emphasis in flute and organ.  She is retired from a 30+ year career as a CPA and is now spending her life with handbells.  She is active in the music ministry of Chapelwood United Methodist Church and directs their Chancel Bells and a children’s handbell ensemble.  In 2019, Diana assumed leadership of the Brookwood Community Handbell Ensemble and has fallen in love with this community and its citizens.  She also serves on the board of directors for the Greater Houston Handbell Association (GHHA) and Handbell Musicians of America Area 9 (HMA; Texas and Oklahoma).  Aside from handbells, Diana is blessed to be one of 10 pianists in Chapelwood’s fabulous Carols and Keyboards concert each December, performed on 4 concert grand pianos along with choir and organ.  She is happily married and has 3 beautiful grandchildren.

Michael Petrus-Jones

Board Member at Large and Ensemble Member
2011-2014, 2025-present

Michael Petrus-Jones began ringing when he was 11 years old in his hometown of Austin, Texas. He became a member of the Houston Bronze Ensemble during his undergraduate years at Rice University from 2010 to 2014. He took an extended break to complete medical training and now is a general academic pediatrician here in Houston. He is passionate about advocating for underserved populations and educating young doctors. He is excited to rejoin the ensemble and continue to make music for the Houston community. Outside of work you can find him reading a good book, running along Buffalo Bayou, or eating at one of Houston’s amazing restaurants with husband, Rodney.

Michelle Shuman

Board Member at Large and Ensemble Member
Member 2001-2014, 2016-2020, 2022-present

Michelle Shuman joined Houston Bronze Ensemble in 2001. She started her handbell journey in the Bernadine Bell Choir in Garden City, KS and was fortunate to play in the Rhapsody Ringers under Joan Shull while at Kansas State University. She came to Houston for medical residency and is currently a pediatrician with Texas Children’s Pediatrics. Her hobbies include astronomy, watercolor painting, riding her E-bike, walking, and reading. She lives in the Heights with her 3 cats and an assortment of wildlife that calls her back yard home

Megan Staley

Board Member at Large and Ensemble Member
Member 2023-present

Megan Staley started ringing handbells at a young age in Cincinnati, Ohio, progressing to the adult bell choir at her church when she was in junior high school. While living in Boston as a young professional, she rang with the Old South Ringers at Old South Church and was a substitute ringer for the Back Bay Ringers in its nascent years. Megan lived in Europe for 15 years (Paris, London, and Geneva) and while there, she rang under the direction of Fred Gramann at the American Church in Paris (commuting from London for some rehearsals and all performances!). While in London, Megan also learned the art of tower bell ringing and also rings in Houston. She works for Sempra Infrastructure, bringing her 20 years of experience in the LNG industry to its Port Arthur LNG project. When not ringing, Megan loves doing jigsaw puzzles, running, and reading.

wilson Van Tine

HBE Treasurer and Ensemble Member
Member 2001-2005, 2008, 2012-present

Wilson  Van Tine​  works for Phillips 66 as the Manager of Audit Services. Besides ringing with Houston Bronze, Wilson also rings with Memorial Drive United Methodist Church and as a solo ringer. Wilson serves as treasurer on the board of  Houston Bronze.  Wilson lives with his two dogs Winston and Splinter.

HBE Equipment and Accoutrement

Houston Bronze Ensemble makes a wide variety of meaningful music with 7-octaves of Schulmerich Handbells, 6-octaves of Malmark Handchimes, 2 octaves of Schulmerich Silver Melody Bells, 1 octave of Malmark Cymbells, 5 octaves of Petit and Fritsen Bells, a 4 octave set of Schulmerich bells for duplicates, orchestral chimes, a trap set, 54-feet of tables, 54-feet of 4" thick foam padding, a gazillion yards of corduroy table covers,  14 singing bell dowels, 2 rolling bass bell racks, 52 mallets of varying sizes and styles, 18 sets of battery-operated stand lights, 3 extra music folders for rehearsal substitute ringers, 6 collapsible Manhasset music stands, 19 rolling bell and chime cases, 1 triangle, 1 pair of castanets, 1 wind chime, 1 pair of finger cymbals, 1 cajon drum, 1 big can of Simichrome bell polish, dozens of polishing cloths, and 1 very important box of tools. We are occasionally joined by fabulous instrumental soloists, talented choral ensembles and vocal soloists, and once even a pair of ballroom dancers.