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william l. wittman - director
william l. wittman - director
A native of Lancaster, Ohio, William Wittman brings over 40 years of experience in music education and leadership. He holds degrees from Ohio University (BFA), Wright State University (MM), and completed doctoral coursework in Educational Leadership at Ohio University. Bill studied conducting under Dr. Myron Welch and was honored with the Wright State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002.
Bill's career began as Director of Bands for Lancaster City Schools, where his programs earned national recognition, including performances in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Disney World. His Symphonic Band and Marching Band consistently received top ratings at District and State competitions. Bill later served as Director of Fine Arts Education for Newark City Schools, before becoming a school superintendent for Hamilton Local Schools and Tri-County Career Center in Nelsonville.
After retiring from education, Bill became the Director of Business and Trade Show Operations for the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), continuing his advocacy for music education statewide.
Throughout his career, Bill has been deeply involved in the community, including 25 years as Director of The Jubilate Ringers at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Newark. He has also served as an adjudicator for OMEA, helped select the Columbus Symphony Orchestra's Music Educator of the Year, and is a board member for Pro/Arte Ohio. Bill is also the Handbell Director for the Celebration Ringers at First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster and a Past-President of Phi Beta Mu.
In his retirement, Bill continues to be active in music education and enjoys spending time with his wife, Suzanne, their children, and grandchildren, all of whom are musically inclined.
leta cook - director emeritus
leta cook - director emeritus
Leta was the founder of LHE in March of 2011 and was the Director of First Presbyterian's Celebration Ringers (LHE's home base). She retired from the Celebration Ringers and continued as the director of LHE until 2022 after our Christmas/Winter concert.
Leta Cook has a B.A. in Music Ed with Choral Directing emphasis from Manchester College, and has done graduate studies at Indiana University, Methesco, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Her handbell experience began 33 years ago, when she was invited to ring in a Bell Directors’ choir in Ft. Wayne, IN. She’s been directing handbell choirs for 31 years.
Over the years, she has had the opportunity to take extended classes with Robert Ivey and William Griffin, and rung under the direction of countless nationally known handbell composers and clinicians at Area V AGEHR events.
Leta earned her AGEHR Director’s certificate at the National Handbell Director’s Symposium in Hartford CT in 2003. Since then she’s attended a number of National AGEHR Symposiums where the potential of an area community handbell choir began to take shape.
She served on the AGEHR Area V Board, and was recently privileged to have an original handbell piece commissioned in her honor, by the Celebration Ringers of First Presbyterian. The piece, “Endless Song” was directed by its composer, Tim Waugh.
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