Carla’s history

Carla Sue was born in England. She began playing handbells in 1987, after hearing a handbell team playing Christmas carols in a pub! She joined the Wokingham All Saints handbell group, and stayed with that group for more than twenty years. Carla also spent a number of years as a member of the South East Region Bell Orchestra. She also performed with the Rowland Ringers Ensemble and St. Nicholas Hurst Handbell Ringers.

While living in England, Carla was also a member of Pizzazz Handbell Trio, representing the UK at a handbell festival in Tallinn, Estonia. She was also involved with the Finchampstead handbell project Inspiration. This community volunteering project was nominated for a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2012.

An overseas move!

Larry and Carla met online in 2008, on a site for handbell musicians. After spending time in a long-distance relationship, they successfully navigated the U.S fiancée visa (K-1) process. Carla moved from England to the USA in August 2012. She and Larry had a handbell-filled wedding in California in September 2012! Carla maintained her connection with the UK handbell community through her continuing involvement in Inspiration International. This project continues the community work started by Inspiration. Its mission is to share the joy of handbell music with young and elderly people in southeast England.

Carla’s continuing handbell experiences

Carla has been a participant at the annual Bay View Week of Handbells since 2010, and Position Coordinator at that event since 2018. She has also taught and performed at handbell events in the USA and Europe. Carla is the treble section leader for the Kalamazoo Ringers – one of the oldest continuously-operating bronze-level community handbell choirs in the USA.

Carla is an expert in playing handbells in the traditional British 4-in-hand style, and is available to teach this, and treble ringing techniques, at workshops and handbell conferences. And yes, she still has her English accent, and will be happy to share advice on how to make a proper cup of tea.