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 young son.

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  Wendy Baldwin

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

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  Chris Butler

  Chris, member of Westminster Ringers, has been ringing on and off in choirs for the last 15+ years. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech, currently working as a web developer for the US Census Bureau. Chris, and his wife Kaitlyn, recently moved to Maryland which makes getting to bell practice in Westminster much easier! When not ringing, Chris enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with friends.

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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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  Karleigh Conaway

  Karleigh Conaway, member of Accelerando, has been playing handbells for 9 years. She recently returned from an 18 month mission with her church where she loved serving the people, but man did she miss ringing! Now that she’s back, she is excited to be ringing with her mom, Wendy, in Accelerando again. Karleigh got her biology degree from Stevenson University in 2019, and now works as a lab technician at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine. In her free time she enjoys doing outdoor activities and spending time with family and with her new husband!

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  Michelle Dohm

  Michelle, a member of Accelerando, began ringing with the Frederick Presbyterian Church Bell Choir in 2012. 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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  Cathy Eichholz

  Cathy, a member of Westminster Ringers, is thrilled to join the Westminster Ringers this season. She has been deeply involved in both choral and instrumental music her entire life, most recently serving as a principal vocalist and the handbell director at her church. She began ringing handbells in 2015 and has directed her church’s handbell choir since 2017. Cathy also works in the field of software engineering project management, leading teams to develop highly customized software products for various government agencies. She lives in Damascus, MD, with her two teenage daughters, and enjoys reading, crocheting, and other crafting projects.

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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 reading intervention teacher at Oakdale Elementary School in Frederick County Public Schools. When not ringing, she enjoys hiking, kayaking and spending time with her friends and family.

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  Debbie Henning

  Debbie, Music Director of Accelerando and member of Westminster Ringers, has been involved with handbells for over 50 years as both a ringer and a director. Besides ringing & directing with Westminster Ringer, Inc., she is the Director of Music at Grace UMC in Gaithersburg, MD and co-Handbell Director at the Westminster Church of the Brethren in Westminster, 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 & three grandchildren.

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  Larry Henning

  Larry, Music Director of Westminster Ringers, is a retired seventh grade mathematics teacher. Early in his teaching career, 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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  Sheena R. Hunter

  Sheena, member of Westminster Ringers, learned what handbells were 26 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, and riding her bike.

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  Sarah Hurd

  Sarah, a member of Accelerando, began ringing handbells at St. Andrew by the Bay as a teenager. Today, she directs the handbell choir at that church as well as playing in the handbell choir at St. John the Evangelist and directing the handbell quartet there. Sarah works in the Baltimore region renovating and staging houses for sale. Whenever she can find a spare moment, she enjoys roller skating and roller coasters.

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  Pam Leader

  Pam, member of Accelerando and Westminster Ringers, began ringing with her church choir in 2003. She is an engineer and works for the federal government. Pam is the Bookkeeper with Westminster Ringers, Inc. She loves to spend time with her family (especially her two grandchildren) 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 is a stay at home mom for her little boy and enjoys cross stitching and crocheting.

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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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  Diane Rehling

  Diane, a member of Accelerando, is thrilled to have recently joined Accelerando! After studying piano for a while, she was invited to join the handbells at Fallston United Methodist Church where she played for 13 years. Most recently, she’s makes music with the bell choir at Hiss United Methodist Church. She picked up ukulele a while ago and has loads of fun playing uke with her granddaughters. Diane works in the Student Counseling Center at Goucher College. She’s fluent (maybe a tad rusty) in American Sign Language, and had the most fun when interpreting theater, church services or music. When Diane finds time to cross stitch, there’s an unfinished piece always waiting!

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  Louisa Rettew

  Louisa Rettew first played handbells for one year at Cockeysville Junior High School. She didn’t see them again until St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sweet Air, purchased a set in 1996, and she’s been playing ever since. In 2002, she began solo ringing and also became RingLeader for the Handbell Choir at St. John’s. She plays the piano - BADLY - and is learning how to play the lever harp. Bells are in her blood, as her great- and great-great-grandfathers were both bellmakers in Baltimore, working for the Henry McShane Bell Foundry. In her “real” life, she is a mechanical engineer working for Baltimore County, a licensed Professional Engineer, and a “green” building design and construction Accredited Professional under LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

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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 the Director of Youth Ministries at Frederick Presbyterian Church and also a trombone player, who performs often at church and in local pit orchestras. Ashley loves crochet, bike riding, wine tasting, and fantasy football.

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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 9 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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  Amy Varner

  Amy, member of Accelerando, began ringing in church bell choirs when she was in third grade. She currently rings at Frederick Presbyterian Church. Amy has a K-12 Music Education degree with a vocal concentration and collegiate experiences with bassoon and piccolo. She currently teaches elementary general music at Spring Ridge Elementary School and Sabillasville Environmental School in Frederick county. Outside of music Amy enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends. 

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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 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 providing guidance and verification services for home builders seeking green and energy efficiency certifications. In his free time, he enjoys reading, video games, camping 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.