Brenda Austin

brendaeaustin.com (website)

Brenda Austin, a native of Southwest Michigan, has been serving First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, MI, as Director of Music since 2003.  At the church, Brenda directs several handbell choirs of all ages and levels and leads worship with the Praise Band.  Outside of FUMER she is Artistic Director for the Detroit Handbell Ensemble and Handbell Editor for Hope Publishing.​
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Brenda is active in the community directing Children’s musical theater and a handbell choir at the elementary school. Each year the church hosts an annual handbell festival where Brenda has served as conductor and clinician. Additionally, Brenda is a freelance handbell composer, arranger and clinician.
 
Brenda graduated with degrees in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She studied with Craig Arnold, Steve Zegree and Eph Ehly. Brenda received many awards for her conducting including being a semi-finalist in the ACDA National Student Conducting Competition in Washington D.C., and a finalist in the Graduate ACDA Student Conducting Competition in San Diego, CA. 
 
Since her first publication in 2014, she has had compositions and arrangements published at Hope Publishing, AGEHR, Beckenhorst Press, the Lorenz Corporation, SoundForth, Jeffers Publishing, Alfred Publishing, GIA Music, From the Top Music and Chorister’s Guild. 
 
Brenda lives in Eaton Rapids, MI with her three children; Hannah, Blaine & Mia.