A native of Washington state, Fred began his early organ studies with Dr. Edward Hansen of Seattle, winning the student organ competition sponsored by the Seattle Chapter of the American Guild of Organists while still in high school. While earning a bachelor's degree in organ performance at Syracuse University, he won first prize in the 1972 Ft. Wayne National Organ Competition and was awarded the Arthur Poister Prize for outstanding organist in the Syracuse University School of Music for four consecutive years.
From 1972-75 Fred studied organ in Paris, France, with Marie-Claire Alain, also spending one year working with organist and composer Maurice Durufle. Fred earned a master's degree in organ performance at the University of Michigan during the 1975-76 school year. He returned to Paris in 1976 as Director of Music at the American Church in Paris, the oldest non-governmental American institution abroad, recently celebrating his 30th year of music ministry.
Mr. Gramann started a handbell program at the American Church in 1981 thanks to a gift of 2 octaves of handbells. The program has since grown to include three handbell choirs performing on 5 octaves of Schulmerich handbells, 4 1/2 octaves of Malmark handbells, 4 octaves of Petit and Fritsen handbells, 5 octaves of Choirchimes and a growing set of Whitechapel handbells. Fred has had numerous choral anthems and handbell works published in the US and is Honorary Associate Director of the Raleigh Ringers
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AGEHR president John Pfeiffer is the vice president of technology and chief information officer at Corrections Corporation of America in Nashville. He holds an MBA from Belmont University and a BS from Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville.
John started ringing in fourth grade under the directorships of Martha Lynn and Felix Thompson at St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and remained active in that program throughout high school.
While at Vanderbilt and again after his military service, John rang with the Joy Ringers at West End United Methodist Church under the direction of Don Marler. He also instituted a youth bell program at West End, which he led for eight years, conducting choirs with participation of over 100 youth. John is co-founder and principal conductor of Music City Bronze, a community handbell ensemble in Nashville.
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WESLEY BELL RINGERS of Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah will present the opening concert of the Festival/Conference. This group is composed of Senior High Ringers who tour every summer after spending much of the previous school year raising money to fund the tour. They are well known, not only for their excellent musical skills, but for all the extra instruments and "fun" things they use in their concerts like the "Boom-A-Gong" designed by Ed Duncan who began the handbell program at Christ UMC. (Also notice the bell rack in the picture below.) This Senior High Group is now under the direction of Terry Waite while Ed Duncan serves as organist and directs the adult handbell choir.
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