Joy, Michael

Michael Joy lives in Philadelphia, PA and has been directing handbell choirs in churches since 1978 and in schools since 1983. He studied handbells with Donald Allured and handbell composition with Arnold Sherman. Michael is currently the middle school music teacher at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA where he conducts 15 different handbell groups. For the last 31 years he has also been the Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Ambler, PA. Michael is a published composer and has taught at Area II and III festivals, PMEA district and state conferences, Handbell Exploration and the AGEHR National Seminar. He was named Composer of the Year for 2004 by Jeffers Publishing Company for his composition Dorian Dance. Michael served two terms as the Secretary for AGEHR Area II. He is also a ringer and Composer-In-Residence for the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.