Kim Blaha: ​Kim is in her eleventh year ringing handbells and in her first year with Virginia Bronze. Along with handbells, she began playing piano and saxophone at a young age. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from the University of Houston and teaches K-6 music at Haycock Elementary in Falls Church.

Patty Ellison-Porter: Patty was introduced to handbells as a pre-teen, and has rung with many churches over the years. Previously, she rang with the Westminster Ringers in Maryland before moving to northern Virginia. She works as a psychologist with the Department of Transportation and teaches psychology courses at the University of Maryland Global Campus. She enjoys spending time with her adult twin daughters, traveling, and playing popular and jazz piano with her husband on bass.

Nick Hanson: Nick has been the director of handbell ensembles at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, for almost 20 years where he teaches private handbell lessons and handbell classes to 5th–12th grade students in five handbell ensembles. He has also been the handbell director at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia for over 15 years.

Nick has served as faculty, clinician, and/or conductor at national handbell events in over 20 states (as well as Washington, DC) and internationally in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. This year, Nick will be leading events in St. Louis, Missouri; the Riverside Church in New York City, New York; Centennial, Colorado; Sheffield, England; and finally in Irving, Texas, as the conductor for the Distinctly Teen Handbell Ensemble (as part of the greater Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar). He has written articles for the national handbell magazine Overtones, and is closing in on his 100th composition/arrangement.

Kylie Johnson:  Kylie grew up playing the piano, and picked up trombone, percussion, handbells, organ, and vocal studies as she matured. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Concordia University - Portland in both piano performance and finance, and a Master's Degree in music from Portland State University. She serves several churches in NOVA, working with their music programs.  In her spare time she loves to bake, do puzzles, and cuddle with her cat, Critter, while watching true-life crime documentaries.

Amanda Kosloski: Amanda recently moved from the Massachusetts Bay Area, where she rang with the Back Bay Ringers. She now works as the Technical Director, Theater Manager, and Performing Arts Teacher for the Landon School in Bethesda, MD. Amanda, who graduated with a degree in bassoon performance from Keene State College, feels handbells is the most interesting thing about herself, and so will let that fact stand on its own.

​​Kathy Murphy: Kathy has been playing handbells for almost 30 years and has been ringing with Virginia Bronze on and off for about 14 years. She is currently a special education teacher at a middle school in Prince William County.  She spends her spare time chasing around her two children, ages 6 and 3, watching medical dramas on TV, and completing puzzles.

Laurel Ohlson: Laurel is a lifelong musician who recently discovered the joy of handbell ringing.  She was the first woman brass player hired by the National Symphony Orchestra, where she held the position of Associate Principal Horn for 42 years until her retirement from the NSO in September 2022.  Laurel was a member of the Capitol Woodwind Quintet for 28 years, and has been a member of Eclipse Chamber Orchestra since its founding in 1992.  She joined Virginia Bronze in 2019, and is delighted to ring alongside such friendly and talented musicians.​

Gillian Penn: Gillian, a Northern Virginia native, has been ringing handbells for over 35 years. She also loves doing puzzles--crossword and jigsaw. When not ringing or puzzling, she runs her husband's lawn care business and drives their two daughters all over town in the infamous Spawn Hauler.  They all live in Fairfax with their 4 cats and 3 diesel trucks.

Jillian Perdos: Jillian began playing handbells with her church ensemble four years ago and is excited to join Virginia Bronze. She grew up taking piano lessons and dabbled in playing the french horn for a few years. Jillian graduated with a degree in Graphic Design, which is being put to good use in her early career as a Graphic Designer in Washington, D.C. 

Alice Real: Alice has been ringing handbells for 25 years and is in her 13th season with Virginia Bronze. A Northern Virginia native, Alice teaches K-6 general music and chorus at Crestwood Elementary in Springfield, Virginia and serves as handbell director at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Springfield. In her spare time she enjoys playing piano and organ, hiking, and photography.

Chris Shaheen: Chris started playing handbells at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD, when he was in junior high school.  Since then he has been a member of several handbell choirs and ensembles, most recently at National United Methodist Church in Washington, DC.  This is his second year with Virginia Bronze and his first year on the board as Ringer Officer.  Chris is an Urban Planner in DC.

Christopher Simon: Christopher is in his second year with Virginia Bronze, though he caught the handbell bug long ago as a first-year high school student. He currently serves as the Upper School Academic Technologist and Assistant Handbell Teacher at the Potomac School in McClean, VA. Christopher holds degrees in Choral Conducting from Kenyon College and Boston University. When not ringing, Chris enjoys (in no particular order) composing, music technology, running, and eating his wife's pierogis. 

Ashley Morgan Wilhelm: Ashley began ringing handbells in the 4th grade in a choir composed mostly of grey-haired church ladies.  She later had the fortune to ring with Bucknell University's Rooke Chapel Ringers and Boston's Back Bay Ringers. Ashley is a family doctor in DC and she just started taking flamenco dance classes.

Laura Wrubel: Laura has been playing handbells since high school and has spent many years ringing with Virginia Bronze. When she's not busy with handbells, she's a librarian and software developer at a university library.