Susan Berry

In her 40-year music career, Susan Berry has become an influential leader in the handbell world. Known internationally for her work with proper ringing that combines body mechanics and bell performance, Susan is a featured clinician at music conferences, weekend retreats, and reading clinics throughout the United States and abroad, teaching workshops and directing mass ensembles at all levels from beginning choirs to the most accomplished ensembles. Over the years, Susan has taught or conducted at many HMA National and at Area Conferences in all twelve HMA regions.

As a Malmark representative for over 35 years, Susan shared her expertise with many hundreds of directors to launch handbell and handchime programs in churches and schools throughout Michigan. Susan was founder and artistic director of two Detroit area performance ensembles that are still active today: Classical Bells and the Detroit Handbell Ensemble. Susan was trained as an organist and music educator at Michigan State University.

Over the years, Susan has been involved in creating many educational resources, including a full 8-book curriculum and a beginning instructional video, all classics in the handbell world. Susan Berry is an authority on proper ringing; in 2000 she published Healthy Ringing, a comprehensive book that has single-handedly changed the way ringers approach playing handbells.

Since 1991 Susan has been a co-owner of Handbell Services, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan (handbellservices.com), a company that continues to service the ringing community through unique artisan-created products, services, and educational opportunities.