Joel Gingrich currently works as a financial report analyst for a law firm in San Francisco. However, his Bachelor of Arts degree in music is much more useful in assisting with Velocity’s background recordings and adding his own compositions and arrangements to the Velocity repertoire. With over 25 years of experience as a handbell ringer, Joel’s most exciting performances were as a graduate student with the Westminster College Choir Handbell Choir - including television appearances on QVC; as a member of Sonos’ 2005 and 2009 tours to Japan; and since 2004 as a member of Velocity. Joel’s unique arrangements for handbells are showcased in Velocity’s concert programs, as well as on the second half of Velocity’s Vintage and Vogue CD.
For over 30 years, Pamela “P.L.” Grove has been at the forefront of handbell artistry in America. As a founding ringer with the critically acclaimed Sonos Handbell Ensemble, her more notable performances include those with the San Francisco Girls Chorus, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, the Kronos Quartet, Frederica von Stade and twice on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. She is currently artistic director for Velocity Handbell Ensemble, and she has directed several church handbell choirs over the years. She continues to pioneer in the field of handbells, having recently become one of only a few people ever to receive a degree in handbell performance. While P.L. makes her living working for the government, she prefers to spend her time playing piano, singing, composing music, and playing the handbells.
Jeannine Schwartz began ringing over 25 years ago when a friend, desperate for a substitute, said, “You have at least seen a handbell, and you can read music. Go!” That was the last time anyone had to push Jeannine to a bell table. She continued ringing at her church throughout high school, and later in college at Purdue University, where she also played trombone in the jazz band. Since moving to California, Jeannine has played with Bay Bells, Velocity, and Sonos. She has a Masters degree in electrical engineering from Purdue, has two children, and currently teaches high school math. You will recognize Jeannine as the one with the children around her after every concert.
