We’re excited to announce that Ms. Patty Saunders will be our Associate Conductor at our upcoming Dayton, Ohio festival! Ms. Saunders will share the podium with our guest conductor, Mr. Lee Afdahl.
Patty Saunders serves as the Music Director for the Alluring Community Handbell Ensemble of Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to planning and rehearsing this auditioned ensemble, Patty directs a children’s handbell choir, the Music Makers, with children in grades 3 through 8. She has a strong desire to collaborate with local and regional artists and she has partnered with the Lexington Philharmonic, University of Kentucky’s Choral and Opera departments, as well as Asbury University. Previously, Patty directed the handbell choir at Tates Creek Presbyterian Church in Lexington. She has been involved with handbells for over 15 years and has studied conducting with Dr. William Payn, Dr. Ted Gentry and Dr. Shelly Boardman. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Psychology from Virginia Tech. Patty is involved with Handbell Musicians of America, previously as the Kentucky State Chair, and now as the Education Chair for the 5 state area. She is working toward music education and grants for schools, churches and organizations where chimes and bells add benefit to existing programs. Patty has taught a variety of workshops and led repertoire reads at the local and regional levels with Area 5 as well as with the American Guild of Organists. Patty enjoys conducting massed rings as well as working with individual choirs as a private clinician. Her love for artistry and musicality is contagious as she promotes accurate technique and form within the art of handbell ringing.
