Patti is a mom and a doctor in her non-bell life. She works as a pediatric intensivist at Dell Children's Medical Center. She and her husband Mike have 2 small children, Isaac and Grace. Her hobbies include swimming, scrapbooking, traveling, scuba diving, bicycling, hiking, movies, and reading. Patti is originally from Nebraska and joined AHE in the Fall of 2004.

Bob is a charter member of AHE and has served as musical director since 1996. He began his serious pursuit of music as a Music Education major at UT-Austin, where he also played trumpet in the Longhorn Band for five years. Bob returned to UT and completed a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting and later a Master's degree in Instructional Technology. He was a band director for 13 years, teaching from the 6th grade to the college level, and he continues his musical leadership now as director of handbells at First Baptist Church in Austin, the AHE and also as the Director of the Baylor Bronze handbell ensemble at Baylor University. He has served the AGEHR as Chair of Area-IX for Texas and Oklahoma and is an active clinician for handbell events. Bob has two children, Elizabeth and Scott. Elizabeth is an elementary music teacher in Austin ISD as well as a member of the AHE and Scott is a Trombone Performance Major at the University of North Texas. Bob's wife, Louise, is the Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Austin.

Elizabeth is Austin-born and recently graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Music in Choral Studies. She is in her first year as an elementary music teacher in Austin ISD. She is very involved in First Baptist Church - ringing handbells, singing in two choirs and being a member of the Christian Education Committee. This is Elizabeth's first semester in the AHE and yes, she is related to the director!

Amy teaches music at Grace Academy in Georgetown. She is also a piano instructor at Holy Word Lutheran School and at her home. On Sunday mornings, she is often on the organ bench at Holy Word Lutheran Church or at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church. Amy joined AHE in 2003, but she has rung bells since 1986. She grew up in Michigan, attended college in Minnesota, and has lived in Wisconsin, Austin, and Pflugerville. Amy's favorite hobby is making music with her husband Stephen.

Chuck has been a member of AHE since 1997. He began ringing in junior high school in Corpus many years ago and has been a member of numerous choirs over the years. He is the Business Manager at New Hope Health Care during the day, but he spends nights and weekends working as a House Manager at both the UT Performing Arts Center and the Long Center for the Performing Arts. When he finds spare time he enjoys cooking, gardening, hanging out with friends, and taking classes in a wide range of subjects. He also has four very spoiled rotten, wonderful dogs that he loves unashamedly.

Carol is new to the AHE this Fall. She serves as Director of Worship and Music at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church where she directs two handbell groups, among other things. Carol was introduced to handbells in college at Wittenberg University. After many dry years, she is happy to be ringing in a group again. Carol has two grown children, both students in higher education, and has recently married the love of her life, Steve Harlow. Carol is an exercise enthusiast, loves to dance, and goes hiking every chance she gets.

Prior to joining the Austin Handbell Ensemble in 1999, Teresa played handbells for five years with Oak Hill United Methodist Church. Teresa is a Registered Nurse in the Mother/Baby Unit at Seton Medical Center. She has two sons, Van and Lance, of whom she is very proud. She loves animals and has two cats and a horse. Her hobbies include gardening, shopping, swimming, and riding her horse.

David is director of software developing for E Publishing. He's played piano since childhood, trumpet since middle school, and guitar since high school. This is his second year with AHE and he also rings with his church handbell choir at First Baptist. David and wife Cinda are proud parents to twins Eyan and Chloe. Remarkably he still finds some time for pursuing theater, hiking, backpacking, and computer games.

Playing with AHE from 1996 to 2006 Bethany McMillan returns to AHE after a 4 year hiatus. She grew up in Austin and graduated from University of Houston where she met her husband of over 30 years, David. They have 2 children. Christopher is currently in law school and Catherine is graduating from A&M in December. She works as a Registered Nurse at Austin Gastroenterology and frequently reminds us how important a colonoscopy is for those over the age of 50. She and her family love to travel and hike.

Becky is a charter member of the Austin Handbell Ensemble and has played handbells for over 25 years. Many of those years were spent at Hyde Park Baptist, and more recently at Austin Baptist Church. In addition to handbells, she has also played piano and clarinet. Becky works at Lone Star Direct. She loves playing with her dog "Little Bit", and she collects coins and movie soundtracks.

Doug joined the AHE in 2008. He started ringing handbells in 1980 and recorded a solo album as part of a fundraising effort for his church music program in New Jersey. In 1991, Doug graduated from The University of Georgia, where he was the starting first baseman for a National Championship baseball team, with a major in journalism and a minor in music and drama. He then played professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, reaching the Double-A level before retiring to pursue a career in coaching. Doug and his wife Carol moved to Hutto in 2007 where Doug works as a private baseball instructor.

Mike started ringing handbells when his family moved to east Texas in the summer of 1994. He began ringing at Pollard UMC, then with the East Texas Handbell Ensemble for two years, both under Arnold Sherman. He met Bob Avant and AHE at Pinnacle 2000 in Las Vegas. After moving to Austin in 2000 for college, he substituted with AHE for a year and then joined as a member. Mike lives with his two dogs, Willy and Rasta, and his cat Mogwai.

Linda is a full time agent with Keller Williams Realty. She has been ringing bells since 1982 and, prior to her move to Austin in 1994, was a member of the Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble. Linda has a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Eastern Kentucky University and a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Texas. In addition to ringing bells, Linda directs three handbell choirs at Covenant Presbyterian Church. She also has regularly taught handbells at the Heart of Texas Suzuki Workshop at Texas State University in San Marcos. In her free time Linda likes to read, garden, travel, and play with her cats.

After moving around a lot growing up, Dee finally put down roots in Austin in 1986 following graduation from UT with a degree in special education. She enjoys teaching at Bryker Woods Elementary in West Austin. Her students continue to inspire and teach her everyday. Dee's precious free time is easily filled with a good book, a bike ride, a visit with friends, a gardening session, or an adventure with Dan and Emma. She joined the Austin Handbell Ensemble in 2005, rings with the Ring of Faith at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, and directs 4th-6th graders in the Bryker Woods Chime Club.

Laura joined AHE in Fall, 2011 after ten years of playing in the handbell choir at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Cedar Park. Her musical background also includes flute, bassoon, and drumline.

Laura is the accounting manager for Don Quick & Associates, a commercial real estate and property management company in Round Rock. She enjoys Longhorns Baseball, knitting, and sci-fi. She lives in Round Rock with her three cats: Kara, Kaylee, and Karl.