Ringers

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  Amy Archibald

  Amy, member of Westminster Ringers, has been ringing handbells for over 25 years. She learned to ring at Milford Mill United Methodist Church (Pikesville, MD) where her mother is the Director of Handbell Choirs. Ringing is definitely a family affair. She is joined by her brother and two cousins in Westminster Ringers also! Amy earned her Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Towson University, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Amy is a biology teacher at Wilde Lake High School in Howard County, MD. When not working or ringing, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, young daughter, and infant son.

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  Wendy Baldwin

  Wendy, member of Accelerando, began ringing with St. Paul’s UCC ten years ago and has been ringing with Belle Grove Legato and Rainbow Ringers since their
  inception. Wendy considers ringing handbells a family experience. She rings with three of her children, Karleigh, Brady and Riece, her sister Tessa Starr, and three nephews and her neice. When she’s not playing music, she teaches kindergarten at Piney Ridge Elementary School in Carroll County.

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  Teri Burtis

  Teri, a member of Accelerando, began ringing with the Bells at the Run, the bell choir at her church, in 2012. After attending several performances by Accelerando and Westminster Ringers, she joined Accelerando in 2014. When not practicing, Teri has been known to do fundraising events and has been seen repelling down a 13-story building, taking a dip in the Chesapeake Bay in January, going totally bald, and most recently, riding on a 50-mile bike ride.

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  Chris Butler

  Chris, member of Westminster Ringers, has been ringing on and off in choirs for the last 20+ years. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech, currently working as an applications developer for the US Census Bureau. When not ringing, Chris likes to spend his time with his wife Kaitlyn and trying to keep up with their daughter Hannah. He also enjoys playing strategic board games and volleyball.

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  Debbie Campbell

  Debbie, member of Accelerando & 4-tissimo, has been ringing handbells for over 20 years. She has rung in several church choirs prior to a community choir. Debbie enjoys bowling, reading, and traveling. Since her retirement, she has lots of time to spend with her four grandchildren.

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  Michelle Dohm

  Michelle, a member of Accelerando, began ringing with the Frederick Presbyterian Church Bell Choir 9 years ago. When she is not attending one of her son's musical theater performances, Michelle can often be found camping or watching sports with her husband. She loves to read and work out - especially in the nearby mountains and national parks.

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  Laura Eigel

  Laura, member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing handbells at the age of seven at Hillsboro First United Methodist Church. She learned to ring under the direction of her mother and later joined her in teaching the youth at the church to ring. Laura is a second-grade teacher at Edmondson Heights Elementary School in Baltimore County Public Schools. When not ringing, she enjoys outdoor activities, square dancing, and spending time with family.

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  Kelly Esslinger

  Kelly, member of Westminster Ringers, has enjoyed performing ever since AFTER her fourth grade performance of Ode to Joy on the flute. She played flute throughout her educational career and joined Evangelical Reformed UCC’s Cambridge handbell choir once out of college, in Fall 2016. After learning about the myriad of opportunities in handbells through director networking, she joined the Frederick Community College Handbell Choir in Fall 2018. After enjoying three seasons with the FCC choir, Kelly also began rehearsing with Accelerando in Spring 2020 (only rehearsing, though, because performances got canceled due to COVID-19). Now she’s excited for her debut with the Westminster Ringers! When she’s not ringing, Kelly works as a transcriber at schools in and around the Baltimore, MD area and enjoys learning about computers, watching Bob’s Burgers, and playing with her cat, Mona, in Frederick, MD.

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  Debbie Henning

  Debbie, Music Director of Accelerando and member of Westminster Ringers, has been involved with handbells for over 45 years as both a ringer and a director. Besides ringing & directing with Westminster Ringer, Inc., she teaches early childhood music and movement classes and is the Director of Music at Grace UMC in Gaithersburg, MD. In addition to her musical activities, Debbie loves to quilt, sew and cross stitch. Debbie serves as Managing Director and Treasurer for the Westminster Ringers, Inc. Debbie and her husband Larry are the founding members of the Westminster Ringers, Inc. and have three grown children & two grandchildren.

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  Larry Henning

  Larry, Music Director of Westminster Ringers, is currently a seventh grade mathematics teacher at Mt. Airy Middle School in Mt. Airy, MD. While at a previous school, he established the Carrolltowne Ringers – a children’s handbell program for grades third through fifth. Under his direction, they received the National Exemplary School Award from Handbell Musicians of America. He has also directed the Agape Ringers from the Westminster Church of the Brethren and Wesley Carillon from the Westminster UMC. Larry has been a clinician with Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 for their Bronze Conference Choir, Read & Ring Workshops and the Ocean City & Hampton Festivals. He studied conducting under William Payn. Larry and his wife, Debbie, are the co-founders of the Westminster Ringers, Inc.

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  Charlotte Herbstsomer

  Charlotte, member of Westminster Ringers for six years, teaches General Music and Chorus at Elmer Wolfe Elementary School in Union Bridge where she loves teaching the students to play the handchimes. She is also the bell director at the Westminster Church of the Brethren. Charlotte lives in Finksburg with her husband Bob and Cocker Spaniel Spirit. She enjoys spending time with her two adult sons Adam and Ryan. She also enjoys gardening, cooking and baking.

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  Julie Hughner

  Julie, member of Westminster Ringers, has been ringing bells for over 20 years. She also rings with Wesley Carillon at Westminster UMC. She has been a Senior Software Engineer with T Rowe Price for 25 years. She enjoys reading, all things music, and spending time with her family. She is very proud of her daughter Brin, who is a licensed cosmetologist and also works in the healthcare industry, and her son Zach, who graduated last year from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park and is a mortgage loan originator.

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  Sheena R. Hunter

  Sheena, member of Westminster Ringers, learned what a handbells were 25 years ago, and realized they were pretty cool. She joined the Westminster Ringers at its inception when she was looking for new challenges and different music. She moved to the low bass bells after the first season and no one since has been able to pry them out of her hands. When Sheena is not ringing bells, she an Inventory/Merchandise manager at Petco, slinging large bags of pet food (to keep in ringing shape). In the time she has left, she spends at canine Frisbee events with her rescue dog, Rosie, playing soccer for three different leagues, and riding her bike.

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  Pam Leader

  Pam, member of Accelerando, began ringing with her church choir (Nichols Bethel United Methodist Church in Odenton, MD) in 2003. She works for the federal government and for a metal stamping company, both in Baltimore. Pam is the Bookkeeper with Westminster Ringers, Inc. She loves to spend time with her family, and travel in her spare time.

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  Sarah Loisel

  Sarah, a member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing with her church choir in 2005 and has been enjoying it ever since. Sarah works as an office manager for Atlantic Data Forensics and enjoys reading, anything music, cross stitching and climbing. She is looking forward to being the best mom she can be to the newest member of her family...her sweet baby boy.

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  Meghan Micheals

  Meghan, member of Westminster Ringers, grew up in York, Pa and started ringing bells in the 5th grade at church. She joined the Westminster Ringers in 2011 and is also an accomplished handbell soloist, having studied under Ron Bellamy and plays throughout the year as time permits. Meghan lives in Frederick, MD with her son and daughter. When not ringing bells, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, watching movies, running, enjoying nature and spending time with her family.

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  Erin Porter

  Erin, a member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing 20+ years ago with her church’s handbell choir, which she has now been the director of for 10 years. Erin is also a music coordinator at her church and enjoys singing and playing various instruments with groups in her community. When Erin isn’t doing music, she enjoys spending time with her husband Rob and is a Dental Hygienist in Hanover PA.

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  Barb Roeper

  Barb, member of Accelerando, enjoys making music by playing instruments and singing. She has been part of the music ministry at her church for many years, and she has been ringing handbells with Accelerando since 2012. She works full-time as an environmental engineer. When not working or making music, Barb enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three active college-age children.

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  Ashley Simms

  Ashley, a member of Accelerando, has been ringing handbells with church choirs since the fifth grade and currently enjoys playing with the Frederick Presbyterian Church Bell Choir. Ashley is also a trombone player, who performs often in church and in local pit orchestras. In addition to her musical endeavors, Ashley is the Director of Youth Ministries at Frederick Presbyterian Church and loves planning fun and faith-full experiences for the youth at the church. Ashley spends her free time crocheting, running (short distances only!), wine tasting, and following the Mets and the Packers.

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  Bev Spicknall

  Bev, a member of Accelerando, has enjoyed music since early childhood. As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Taneytown, MD, she is involved with their vocal choir and joined their bell choir when the church started a bell program a few years ago. Bev loves this method of sharing music with others.

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  Dixie Sumpter

  Dixie, a member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing with her church choir 5 years ago. She enjoys solo ringing as well as playing in an ensemble. If she is not ringing bells, you can find her playing oboe in various wind ensembles. She is a scientist at a local biotech company. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading, and hanging out with her cat and turtle.

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  Laura Swafford

  Laura, member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing handbells when her youth choir director dragged her (literally) into practice one day, and she found to her surprise that she actually liked it. She is a research chemist & program manager with the Federal Bureau of Engraving & Printing.

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  Lin Wolfe

  Lin, member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing with her church’s bell choir upon its inception back in 1992. She is a Medical Technologist who is currently working as a Clinical Program Manager for Becton Dickinson in Sparks, MD. Lin resides in Upperco, MD with her husband. In her spare time, she is a biker chick.

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  Nancy Wortman

  Nancy, member of Westminster Ringers, began ringing in 2001 with the Bell's Bells Handbell Choir of Timonium United Methodist Church. She works in the front office of Cockeysville Middle School. When not playing handbells, she enjoys learning to knit and spending time with her family in Maryland and Minnesota.

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  Alex Yates

  Alex, a member of Westminster Ringers, started ringing over 15 years ago at Milford Mill UMC, the youngest in a family of bell ringers. He graduated from Shepherd University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. Alex works in the green construction industry doing home energy modeling and green ratings. In his free time, he enjoys reading, video games, and snowboarding as the weather allows.

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  Jeff Yates

  Jeff, a member of Westminster Ringers, started ringing handbells at the age of 15 at Milford Mill UMC where bell ringing has become a family tradition. Professionally, he works as a contractor for various government agencies as a penetration tester. Jeff is also the treasurer and a founding member of the Maryland non-profit Unallocated Space where he likes to tinker with computers and electronics.

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  Marissa Yoes

  Marissa, member of Accelerando, has played handbells on and off with church ensembles since she was in middle school. Originally from Arizona, she rang consistently with University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, AZ from 2009-2015, at which time she relocated to Maryland. She has played with Frederick Presbyterian Church since 2016. Marissa is a speech language pathologist who enjoys working with people across the lifespan and currently provides services to adults in Hagerstown, MD. She lives in Frederick with her first love (a dog named Winston) and her forever love (husband, Dustin).