Daniel R. Afonso Jr., Chorus Director

Daniel R. Afonso Jr. has served as conductor of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus since its foundation in 2001 and has prepared several choral works with the ensemble. He is also Coordinator of Vocal and Choral Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. Afonso received a B.M.E. degree from the Universidade do Rio de Janeiro (UNI -Rio), a M.M. degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a D.M.A. degree in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa. Dr. Afonso is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has studied conducting with Carlos Alberto Figueiredo, Cees Rotteveel, Eph Ehly, and William Hatcher.

Dr. Afonso has performed with choral groups in Brazil, U.S., and Europe, and has previously taught music at the Conservatório Brasileiro de Música, Universidade do Rio de Janeiro (UNI-Rio), and Doane College, Nebraska. In 1988, he won the first prize and the best performance of Villa-Lobos work award at the Concurso Villa-Lobos de Canto Coral, a national choral competition sponsored by the Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro. Dr. Afonso is strongly committed to the performance of new music and has commissioned and premiered many new choral works in the last few years, including several of his own works as well as works by young composition students.  He had his New York debut in 2012, conducting Mozart’s Requiem with members of the MSO Chorus and students from CSU Stanislaus at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

He is also a composer, arranger, and editor of choral music and has choral works published by earthsongs, Colla Voce, and Alliance Music Publications. He served as composer-in-residence with the San Francisco Choral Artists during their 2014-2015 season and has also written works for the Los Angeles Children’s Choir, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, and other ensembles in the US and abroad. He has written innumerous arrangements for the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, including a new version of The Star-Spangled Banner for chorus and orchestra, recently premiered at the opening concert for the 2015-16 concert season. Dr. Afonso is widely recognized for his research and performance of Brazilian choral music and continues to frequently present workshops and lectures about the Latin American choral repertoire.

Opus Handbell Ensemble

Opus Handbell Ensemble, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization, has been a group of aspiring musicians in Modesto since 1992. They are currently 14 ringers strong and now under the direction of Lisa Traughber, as artistic director Rich Colla retired in June of 2024. With over 150 combined years of ringing experience, they perform on five-plus octaves of Malmark handbells, five-plus octaves of Malmark tone chimes and occasionally, a selection of Whitechapel handbells.

Handbells are a unique instrument requiring precision eye-hand coordination, music reading ability and a willingness to work as a team. Repertoire for this art form ranges from classical Bach to Heavy Metal and Rock 'n' Roll. Opus is known throughout the handbell community for reflecting, in bronze, the artistic interpretation of the director. They bring musicality and depth to a performance beyond the expectations of the listening and viewing audience.

Opus has spearheaded the art of handbell ringing in the Central Valley with themed concerts throughout the year. Opus has also hosted and conducted local workshops to raise the level of awareness of handbell ringing in the Modesto community. One of their greatest joys has been to take this artistic medium into the music mainstream through local schools by broadening the dreams of students who have never seen or heard a handbell choir.

Opus has played on the Community Concert Series in Porterville, four years on the Manteca Kindred Arts Council Concert Series and three years on the Sonora St. James’ Concert Series. They also played on two occasions for the Evensong Series in Lodi. These fine musicians have attended festivals and workshops from Riverside to the Bay Area. They were a featured choir to ring at Pinnacle 2000 in Las Vegas, and the Handbell Musicians of America Area Twelve Conference at Belmont in 2006. In June of 2008, Opus joined the Trinity United Koinonia Choir in Coventry, England for an International Choir Festival tour, and were the only full handbell ensemble to do so.

Opus has been the host ensemble along with seven other handbell groups for the Modesto Salvation Army Bells of Blessing benefit concert since 2010. For the first time, by an audition process, Opus was chosen to be the featured Showcase Ensemble for the Handbell Musicians of America Area Twelve Bell Odyssey Conference held at UC Davis, in June of 2010. They were honored again in 2016, as a Showcase Ensemble for Area Twelve “Handbell Hop” Conference held in Modesto.

Opus was featured on the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert at the Gallo Center in 2007, 2008 and 2010. They were also featured guest musicians at the Modesto Symphony’s Candlelight Concert held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in 2009 through the present. In 2012 Opus presented a handbell drama/concert as part of the Arts Education Program of the Gallo Center for the Arts and paired it with an evening public concert through 2016.  A stand-alone Christmas concert was contracted every other year: 2018, 2021, 2023. A new contract was signed with the Stockton Haggin Museum as part of their featured events in December in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Opus having recorded two CDs: “Rhythmic Intensity” in 2000 and “An Opus Christmas” in 2009 brings many selections from these projects to life during their live concerts.

Opus is grateful to Trinity United Presbyterian Church, which graciously shares its facility and all of the handbell equipment, enabling us to do what we love—ringing! To Opus alumni, past and present, and to family and friends who understand the many hours of preparation: “We love you and thank you for your never-ending support.”

Opus is a member of the Handbell Musicians of American, a national organization established in this country in 1954. www.HandbellMusicians.org

For more information about Opus, please contact Director, Lisa Traughber at 209-527-2214 or visit our Facebook page or website at opushandbell.org

Lisa Traughber, Opus Handbell Ensemble Director

Lisa Traughber, Opus Handbell Ensemble Director

Lisa is the new Director of Opus Handbell Ensemble, following in the footsteps of recently retired Artistic Director, Richard Colla. Lisa, who accepted the Opus baton in June, also recently retired from Trinity United Presbyterian Church, where she served for 25 years as Executive Assistant of Publications, Communications and Graphic Arts. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Lisa has loved art and music since childhood. She began ringing in 1975, became a member of the national organization, Handbell Musicians of America, and was hooked for life!  In Ohio Lisa directed high school and adult handbell choirs and obtained an Applied Business in Commercial Art degree from the University of Cincinnati. She came to California with her husband in 1990 and began ringing with Centenary United Methodist Church, and then the newly formed Opus Handbell Ensemble. Under the direction of retired Minister of Music, Richard Colla, Lisa participated in Trinity’s music ministry through choir, women’s ensemble and handbells since the early 90’s.

She has also been director of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Mission Bells in Manteca since 2014. Lisa served as conference coordinator for Handbell Musicians of America Area 12, in 2016 and 2024. She has also sung with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus since 2000.