Chicago Area Chair, Open

Iowa State Chair, Dick Cruisenberry

Dick Crusinberry, Iowa Chair, is a native Iowan who recently returned to the state after living in Nebraska for many years. He started ringing almost 30 years ago with his local handbell choir in Nebraska and was one of the founding members of Bell-issimo, an auditioned community handbell choir in Lincoln, Nebraska directed by Nancy Youngman. He currently rings with his church’s handbell choir in Iowa City as well as Des Moines Concert Handbells.

Dick also plays trombone and has served as Principal Trombone in the Lincoln Civic Orchestra, as well as being a long-time member of the Lincoln Community Concert Band. He currently is a member of the Iowa City Community Band and the Iowa City New Horizons Band, and plays in Tempered Brass, a local trombone choir, as well as playing euphonium in his church’s brass choir.

After nearly 30 years, Dick retired from his practice as a urologic surgeon last year. He and his wife, Laurel, have four adult children and three grandchildren. They are also the proud parents of an English bulldog named Jack. Dick enjoys running, hiking and travel.

Kansas State Chair, Amy Knudsen

Amy’s introduction into handbells started in college when she was a counselor at a music camp.  She discovered the joy of ringing, even after completing what would be considered a wall-mart, except it was into a glass stereo door.  (Don’t worry – nothing was broken.)  After several years of not ringing, she moved to Kansas, and discovered a brand-new set of Schulmerich handbells at the church she just joined and became the director.  The next few years were a constant learning experience with her trying to utilize techniques learned from various Area 8 events. After having to step back from directing, she starting ringing as a sub and then a regular member at Southminster Presbyterian Church.  In 2019, she started ringing under Carol Fleeger in the Lawrence Community Handbell Choir, where she still rings.  She started attending HMA National Conventions as an employee of Third Bell on the Right, and then as a regular attendee.  In October 2024, she attended her first Distinctly Bronze event and has had her first piece of music published by CIR.  She was also part of the equipment team at Pinnacle 2025 in Wichita, KS and loved being behind the scenes at such a large event.  In 2024, she bought out Darby Handbell Services and started her own handbell refurbishing business, Prairie Sun Handbell Services.  She even taught a handbell maintenance class at a Kansas handbell event in September of 2024. In addition to handbells, she also plays bassoon around the Kansas City Metro, being a regular member of the Kansas City Wind Symphony, the American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, and the Westwood Ensemble.  She tries to play in the Fountain City Bassoon Ensemble as often as she can and has subbed in other organizations, including the Liberty Symphony and the KU Medical Arts Symphony.  Let’s just say music is in her blood!

She’d love to touch base with anyone, and talk about the future of handbells in the state of Kansas and Area 8.

Missouri State Chair, Open

Nebraska State Chair, Byron Jensen

Byron W. Jensen recently retired from Hastings College (Nebraska) where he concluded forty-three years of music education working with ages ranging from preschool to college to professional musicians. His entrance to handbells began in 1990 as a professor at Ottawa University (Kansas) and continues today as an adjunct conductor of the Hastings College Handbell Choir. Jensen also directs youth and adult handbell choirs at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, and has initiated beginning handbell experiences through the Hastings Community Music Academy. He has served on the Nebraska Handbell Committee for over a decade, primarily as Secretary, and is excited to move into the Chair’s role. Dr. Jensen is thankful for a talented, dedicated, and creative committee to help grow handbell experiences in Nebraska.