Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble-A Community Ensemble

Ron Bellamy, Lancaster, PA	Ron began ringing handbells in 1980 and has attended festivals and workshops in many states as both a teacher and performer. Ron has been a clinician for Handbell Exploration, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) Areas II and III, and Solo/Ensemble Extravaganza. He has specialized in solo and small ensemble ringing since 1993. In 1998, he joined forces with Bobbi Schmid to form the professional handbell duo "Bell a deux", and they have been featured performers at many prestigious handbell events, most notably the July 2006 AGEHR National Festival in Milwaukee, WI. Ron is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of the University of Scranton, holding a B.S. degree in Liberal Studies. His full-time employment is in the field of finance, and he is presently directing four handbell choirs at three Lancaster area churches. Ron and his wife have three sons. He joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2004.
Ivan Boothe, Philadelphia, PA	Ivan Ivan began ringing bells one day after soccer practice in sixth grade, at the urging of his grandmother as a sneaky way to get him in church. He has played in several choirs at Mountain View United Methodist Church in Cottonwood, Arizona, and more recently at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church. Ivan is the creative director of Rootwork.org and works with the Genocide Intervention Network as an Internet strategy coordinator. Ivan graduated in 2005 with a degree in peace and conflict studies from Swarthmore College, where he wrote a thesis on third-party nonviolent intervention to prevent and stop war. Ivan is also an artist and poet. He joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2008.
Alison Castle, Langhorne,PA	Alison is the newest member of PHE. Please check back again to meet her.
Rebekah Derryberry, Wilmington, DE	Rebekah began ringing when she was eight years old in her mother´s handbell choir. Over the years, she has rung with several choirs including the Parker Chapel Handbell Choir from Trinity University in San Antonio. She plays the clarinet and enjoys performing solos and small ensemble work. Rebekah completed her MS in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2007 and is employed by DuPont as a Field Engineer. She joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2007.
Robert Gardner, Haddonfield, NJ	Bob has been ringing since he was twelve years old. Bob currently conducts the Carillon Ringers of the First Baptist Church in Haddonfield after having rung with them for many decades. He was also a founding member of a four-in-hand quartet at the church. Bob is a trained pianist, organist, and harpist, composing and arranging unpublished works for both harp and handbells. Bob is employed as a credentialed actuary working in insurance regulation. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He and his wife were high school sweethearts. They met at First Baptist in Haddonfield when she needed an accompanist to perform a vocal rendition of O Holy Night. Bob and Sherry have a grown daughter and a son in college. Bob is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.
Sarah Hazel, Phoenixville, PA	Sarah first began ringing in 5th grade with the Dorothy Shaw Handbell Choir. She hasn´t stopped ringing since 1988, and she also spent three years directing the JuBellate Ringers of League City, TX. Sarah is employed as a Physical Therapist Assistant in the Philadelphia area and is active with the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue. She is the owner of Duke and Molly's Doggie Deli. Sarah is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.
Deb Heine, Newtown, PA	Deb has been ringing handbells since 1979. She was a founding member of Chicago´s Agape Ringers and rang with Quadrille, a professional quartet. Currently Deb is the director of the Canon Ringers at the Newtown (Bucks County) Presbyterian Church. She volunteers on the national level for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and she is the chair of the National Seminar for 2008, held in conjunction with the International Symposium. Deb and her husband, Rick, are the parents of two married children and the proud grandparents of Stephen James Heine. Deb is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.
Laura Howson, Lansdale, PA	Laura has been ringing handbells for 20 years. Her other musical passion is Eastern European folk music, which she sings with Svitanya, a nine-member, semi-professional women´s a cappella group. Laura is employed in the vaccines research area of Merck Research Laboratories where she tries to make use of the years she spent earning a BS in Biochemistry, an MS in Clinical Research & Regulatory Affairs, and an MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing. Laura joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2004.
Amanda Joy, Oreland, PA	Amanda, now in her eleventh year of ringing, was introduced to the art of music and dance by her father, handbell composer and director, Michael Joy. Serving both as her music teacher and choir director, he taught her piano, vocal techniques, and English country dancing, in addition to handbell ringing. Amanda works full time at Datacap Systems Inc. where she is a Software Technical Support Engineer. She is also attending Temple University, majoring in Visual Communications, and hopes to pursue a career in Advertising. In her spare time she pursues painting, drawing, and other fine arts. Amanda joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2004.
Rebecca Landon, Horsham, PA	Becky began ringing at age 9 with her mom as her first director. Over the last 20+ years, she has rung with many different choirs and is currently a member of the Celebration Ringers at Abington Presbyterian Church. Becky holds a BS in Accounting from Susquehanna University, has a CPA license in PA, and is a member of the AICPA and PICPA. An accountant by day, she enjoys spending her free time with her husband John, and their two cats and pursuing her passion for baking. Becky joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2006.
Linda Lorgus, West Chester, PA	Linda has been involved with bells for over 30 years as director and ringer. Her handbell choirs have performed in many popular locations including Longwood Gardens, Williamsburg and Disneyworld. She holds a music degree in piano and organ performance from Westminster College and is a free-lance musician accompanying school choirs, soloists, musical theater and the Brandywine Valley Chorale. She is the Music Director / Organist at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville, PA. As recitalist, she is half of an organ/piano duo that presents a variety of repertoire and has produced several CDs. On a personal note, Linda is married with two children. She is an avid gardener, quilter, and woodworker. Linda joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2007.
Marcus Mateer, Philadelphia, PA	Marcus has been ringing handbells for 12 years. He has rung in the Presbyterian Bells of Praise in Middletown, PA, as well as the Rooke Chapel Ringers of Bucknell University. Marcus also received a BS in Cell Biology/Biochemistry from Bucknell. His future plans include medical school. In his spare time Marcus enjoys running, singing and throwing things at the television while rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies. Marcus joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2007.
Shelley Merritt, Willow Grove, PA	Shelley began ringing at the First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank, NJ (Tower Hill) in 1988 and was addicted from the start. While earning a BS in Math at Bucknell University, she was the only four-year member of Dr. William Payn´s Rooke Chapel Ringers. She continued to ring in College Station, TX while earning her Master´s degree in Math at Texas A&M University, and then rejoined the bell program at Tower Hill upon returning home to NJ. Shelley now lives in Willow Grove, PA and enjoys a challenging new job at NCO Group as a Junior Accountant. When she´s not swinging the brass, she likes to spend time with friends and family, read, shop, and explore other musical outlets. Shelley joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2006.
Peter Moschberger, Philadelphia, PA	Peter returns to handbells after a year’s hiatus to finish his degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Previously he had rung since 1989 with various choirs including the Ringers on the Green in Morristown, NJ, the Rooke Chapel Ringers of Bucknell University, and the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble. He is a Physician Assistant for the Emergency Department at Underwood-Memorial Hospital. His passions include good food, coffee, running, and the Jersey Shore.
Rob Mygatt, Rosemont, PA	Rob has been ringing for 11 years. He has most of his experience in choirs, but has also dabbled in small ensemble ringing. Rob holds a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Rochester. He is currently the Director of AV and Technical Theatre at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA. Other passions in his non-existent spare time include sailing and card games. Rob joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2006.
Susan Penrose, Middletown, NJ	Susan holds a BA in Music from Trenton State College in New Jersey, where she studied percussion and keyboards and minored in Art History. She also holds a degree in computer programming from New York University. Susan has been involved with handbells for over 30 years as a choir ringer, director, and solo ringer. She has served on the board of Area II and has been on the faculty of AGEHR Area and National events. Susan spent 20 years in Information Technology on Wall Street and is currently self-employed. Susan is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble and a past President of the organization.
Alan Pentecost, Aldan, PA	Alan began ringing not too long after he was out of diapers. Working his way up from an elementary chime group, he now rings with PHE as well as the Exultate Ringers of Aldan Union Church. Enjoying more than just ringing in a choir, Alan likes to attend festivals and workshops on handbell ringing, too. He recently returned from a 14-day European tour with the handbell group Distinctly Bronze, performing in such venues as the American Church in Paris and St. Paul´s Cathedral in London. Alan holds a BS in Nursing from West Chester University and is a night nurse at Lankenau Hospital, working in the Intensive Care Unit. He also plays the piano and sings with several vocal choral groups. Among other things, Alan loves chess, vanilla ice cream, the beach, coffee, dancing, and reading...in his spare time. He joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2005.
Gail Posey, Yardley, PA	Gail has been ringing since 1991 and directing handbells since 1992. She holds a BS in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College (PA) and an MA in Educational Administration and Supervision from Rider University (NJ). She is music educator at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees, NJ, where she directs the orchestra, guitar, and handbell programs. Gail also directs the handbell program at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Levittown, PA. In her spare time, Gail enjoys sewing, reading, and gardening. She is married and has a grown son. Gail is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.