Studio Faculty - Handbells

Biography

Nancy Jessup earned an A.A. degree in Music at Pasadena City College, B.A. in American Studies at California State College at Los Angeles, and a M.A. in Education at Concordia University, Irvine. She has a California State Teaching Credential, Elementary K-9 and has been teaching for 40 years.

She teaches handbells at Concordia University, Irvine, where she is responsible for two of the four handbell choirs, including overseeing any student directors for those groups, teaching private handbell lessons, coaching the performing handbell ensemble, RESOUND!, and handbell coaching on all levels. Nancy teaches the Handbell Methods course and administrates an annual handbell festival. She also works with the Teacher Education program at Concordia, in the capacity of University Supervisor for student teachers at the elementary level.

Nancy has served as national Membership Chairman for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR), and as Chairman of the Handbell Industry Council.

In February 1996, Nancy performed the American Premiere of John Tavener’s Quartet No. 2: The Last Sleep of the Virgin, with the Chilingirian String Quartet at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California.

She has taught handbells and chimes with all ages and levels of expertise. She has conducted workshops across the United States, in Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Her particular specialty is the area of solo ringing.

She has been Handbell Editor for National Music Publishers, and is both co-author of a book on solo and ensemble ringing, and co-producer of a video teaching tape on the same subject.

Nancy has been a classroom teacher on the elementary level for years. During that time she also directed a 4th-6th grade handbell choir.

Nancy has been married to her best friend, George, for 38 years. He works at Disneyland as a project manager in the facilities department. They have one son, Jon, 31, who is married to a wonderful Indonesian woman. They are both chefs.