Ringers

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  Amy Archibald

  Amy, member of Westminster Ringers, has been ringing handbells for over 30 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 thirteen 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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  Laura Birkholz

  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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  Teri Burtis

  Teri, a member of Accelerando, began ringing with her local handbell choir (formally Bells at the Run, currently Bells by the Bay) in 2012. After attending several performances by Accelerando and Westminster Ringers, she joined Accelerando in 2014. When not practicing, she enjoys reading junior fiction, looking through travel brochures (in hopes of traveling someday), and doing crafty projects.

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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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  Jason Cebulski

  Jason, a member of Accelerando, has been ringing handbells since 2nd grade when he started with his family ringing at his home church, Greenmount United Methodist Church. A recent graduate from the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College, Jason is currently serving as a music teacher in the local area and as Music Director at Emory United Methodist Church in New Oxford, Pennsylvania. When not making music, he enjoys climbing and kayaking with his friends, and relaxing with a book or two.

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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 over 10 years. She loves getting to play with her mom, Wendy, in Accelerando. 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 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 the handbell choir director and a frequently featured vocalist at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, MD. She enjoys arranging music for her ringers and has started learning/performing solo and small ensemble ringing. When not making music, Cathy works as a project manager for a software engineering company and occasionally gets a crafty urge to crochet or sew something. She lives in Damascus, MD with her two teenage daughters.

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  Jan Eisenbarth

  Jan, member of Accelerando, was introduced to handbells in college, and has been ringing regularly since 2000. She rang with the Sine Nomine ringers at Grace Episcopal and the Reformation Ringers at St. Luke Lutheran, both in Silver Spring. She is a retired music teacher (Fairfax and Montgomery Counties) and has also served as interim choir director at a couple of churches in the DMV. She and her husband, Ron, live in Westminster, and have two young grandsons in Columbia, MD. She enjoys doing needlework, especially crochet, and Sudoku puzzles.

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  Ron Eisenbarth

  Ron, member of Accelerando, is a retired television news cameraman who recently moved to the Westminster area along with his wife, Janet. He’s been ringing for over 20 years starting with the Sine Nomine ringers at Grace Episcopal Church and the Reformation Ringers of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Silver Spring, MD. He enjoys model railroading, pin collecting, photography and occasionally plays the trumpet.

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  Amy Gardner

  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 Middletown Elementary School in Frederick County. Outside of music Amy enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends. 

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  Seth Gardner

  Seth, a member of Accelerando, began ringing with his church bell choir when he was about 8 year old. He currently rings t Frederick Presbyterian Church. Seth has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology ad currently holds his Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). He also obtained a minor in music with a focus in voice. He currently works as a medical speech-language pathologist at the Autumn Lake Healthcare Ballenger Creek Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Frederick, MD. Outside of work, he enjoys bike riding, hiking, fishing, camping, playing video games, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

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  Alexa Hayman

  Alexa, member of Westminster Ringers, has been playing handbells since the age of 7, and is excited to be part of this group for the first year. She also sings with various groups and plays oboe, piano, bass and guitar. Alexa graduated from Messiah University and is currently an Elementary Vocal Music Teacher in Howard County. She enjoys many outdoor activities, teaching music and swimming lessons, and spending time with her 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 chime director at Homewood at Frederick in Frederick, MD, the co-handbell director at the Westminster Church of the Brethren in Westminster, MD and teaches music classes at a family daycare. In addition to her musical activities, Debbie loves to quilt, sew and cross stitch. Debbie serves as Managing Director/Treasurer for the Westminster Ringers, Inc. and has served Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 in many capacities – currently as the Chair-Elect. 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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  Nathan Hillman

  Nathan, a member of Westminster Ringers, is primarily a violist, violinist, and composer, but began ringing handbells at his small town church in Maine as a teen, and later on with the Penobscot Bay Ringers, before moving to Baltimore to study viola performance at Peabody Conservatory, earning his degree in 2023.  He has been playing and writing music for as long as he can remember, and he’s most passionate about chamber music (including handbells!).  Nathan currently plays viola in the York Symphony, teaches around the Baltimore/DC area, and does freelance performing.  He is a cat and chicken lover, and in his free time enjoys hiking, exploring back roads, baking, and arranging music.

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  Sheena R. Hunter

  Sheena, member of Westminster Ringers, learned what handbells were 29 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 is driving a school bus in Montgomery County. In the time she has left, she spends at canine Frisbee events or hiking with her rescue dog, Rosie, and riding her bike around the DMV and beyond.

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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 2 little ones, and enjoys cross stitching and crocheting. When not ringing, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends. 

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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 Rockville, MD with her family. When not ringing bells, she enjoys books, movies, games, puzzles, spending quality time with family and friends and enjoying each day to its fullest. 

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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 since 2012, is a lifelong music lover, including playing instruments and singing. She has been part of the music ministry at her church for many years. She works full-time as an environmental engineer. When not working or making music, Barb enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

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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 13 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 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 and her new grandson in Indianapolis.

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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.