History
The Greater Dallas Handbell Association is a non-profit organization committed to promoting handbell ringing and supporting handbell directors.
Claude Ward, a handbell enthusiast and representative of Malmark, Inc., organized the first Steering Committee of local directors. In 1979, GDHA sponsored the first handbell festival in Dallas held at White Rock United Methodist Church. Formal by-laws were adopted and the organization was chartered in 1986.
Under the leadership of a Board of Directors, GDHA continued to sponsor a handbell festival each year, and soon added a workshop for directors and ringers. GDHA now sponsors a fall ringer/director workshop and reading session along with several festivals in the spring.
Past GDHA Festival Conductors
1979 - Helen Flanagan
1980 - Cynthia Dobrinski
1981 - Mary McCleary
1982 - Linda McKechnie
1983 - David R. Davidson
1984 - William F. Griffin
1985 - Betty Garee
1986 - Donald Allured
1987 - William Payn
1988 - Douglas Wagner
1989 - Katsumi Kodama
1990 - Robert Ivey
1991 - David R. Davidson
1992 - Cynthia Dobrinski
1993 - Jane Anderson
1994 - Margaret R. Tucker
1995 - Hart Morris
1996 - Kevin McChesney
1997 - Martin Morley
1998 - Beth Watson
1999 - William Payn
2000- Mary Kay Parrish
2001 - Arnold Sherman
2002 - John Behnke
2003 - Cathy Moklebust
2004 - David R. Davidson
2005 - Michael Helman
2006 - Kathy Ebling-Thorne
2007 - Tim Waugh
2008 - Hart Morris
2009 - David R. Davidson
2010 - David Weck
2011 - Sondra Tucker
2012 - Cynthia Dobrinski, Level 3 and Level 3+ - Greig Ashburst, Level 1&2
2013 - Michael J. Glasgow, Level 3-3+ - John Behnke, Level 2-3
2014 - Michael J. Glasgow, Level 3-3+ - Stephanie Rhoades, Level 2-3
2015 - David M. Harris, Level 3+-4 - Stephanie Rhoades, Level 2-3
2016 - David Weck
2017 - Hart Morris
2018 - Karen Buckwalter
2019 - Martin Morely
2020 - Arnold B. Sherman
2021 & 2022- Stephanie Rhoades
2023 - Beth Watson Judd