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Proclamation
Now Available
About Us
A Community Handbell Ensemble
The Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble strives to reach higher standards of musical excellence through the use of handbells and to explore the incorporation of other instruments in order to broaden the exposure of handbells to the performing arts.
Handbells are a unique instrument in which each bell is tuned to a specific note, like a key on a piano. Unlike an orchestra or choir in which each musician is responsible for one line of the texture, a handbell ensemble acts as one instrument, with each musician responsible for particular notes as they appear in the music. Learn more about and listen to the music of handbells.
The Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble plays around the greater Philadelphia region, and in other locations when invited. We play a variety of venues, including community concerts, religious worship services, festivals and special events. Learn about inviting the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble to perform for you!
Members
Brian Seemann
Artistic Director and Conductor
Brian Seemann began ringing bells in third grade with the youth handbell choir at Whitehouse United Methodist Church in Readington, New Jersey. He moved to Boston to study composition at The Boston Conservatory before returning to Philadelphia and majoring in urban planning at Temple University. He also occasionally works with a parade production company in the Philadelphia area and teaches several local high school marching bands.
Becky Landon
Maple Glen, PA
Becky began ringing at Readington Reformed Church under the direction of her mom when she was 9 years old and has been ringing ever since. She joined PHE in 2006, and has been with the ensemble since then with the exception of two years spent working with her husband in the Philippines. Becky holds a BS in Accounting from Susquehanna University. She is the controller at Centennial Lending Group, LLC.
Diane Seemann
Whitehouse Station, NJ
Diane began ringing in 1998 at Whitehouse United Methodist Church when the church purchased handbells and started a choir. Discovering she really enjoyed ringing, she also joined the bell choir at Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church. Outside of ringing and work, Diane enjoys traveling, cooking and crafting, including trying her hand at a stained glass project and making glass beads. This is Diane’s second season with PHE.
Ellen Draegert
Ambler, PA
Ellen is a long-time ringer and musician. An attorney with a practice focused on Intellectual Property, when not ringing or in the office, Ellen is most likely to be found in, on, or around the water.
Jennifer McKenna
Logan Township, NJ
Jenn has been ringing handbells since age 12, from her hometown of Stroudsburg, PA at Christ Hamilton Lutheran Church. She then performed with the Rooke Chapel Ringers of Bucknell University, and was thrilled to join PHE in 2009. She is a clinical coordinator for the Gift of Life Donor Program, and also loves singing acapella with “In the Mix”, good food, running, and crafting.
Kathleen Simpkins
Haddon Township, NJ
Kathy began ringing in 1992 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Haddonfield, NJ along with her daughter, Nikki. Kathy currently rings with the First Baptist Church of Haddonfield and is in her third season with PHE. She is an administrator at Rohrer Towers II where she enjoys working with seniors, but nothing holds a candle to her role as “Mom-Mom” to four beautiful granddaughters. Kathy is truly humbled to be ringing with this amazing group of ringers!
Nikki Speyerer
Haddon Heights, NJ
Nikki began ringing while in middle school at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Haddonfield, NJ, and has been ringing ever since. In addition to ringing with PHE, she also rings with the First Baptist Church of Haddonfield. Nikki works at Cooper University Hospital as an echocardiographer, and also enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Rob Mygatt
Devon, PA
Rob’s ringing career began at age 13 his musical passions include playing the carillon, singing, and occasionally composing. Rob works as a Control Systems Programmer for Applied Video Technology, integrating technology in classrooms and meeting rooms. In his spare time, Rob enjoys sailing, reading and playing games. Rob joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2006.
Robert Gardner
Haddonfield, NJ
Bob has been ringing since he was twelve years old and is currently the handbell director at the First Baptist Church in Haddonfield where his ringing began. Bob is a trained pianist, organist, and harpist, composing and arranging unpublished works for both harp and handbells. Bob is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.
Ron Bellamy
Lancaster, PA
Ron lives in Lancaster, PA, began ringing handbells in 1979, and is a professional solo handbell artist who has been a featured soloist at several Handbell Musicians of America conferences. He is presently directing four handbell choirs at three churches, and has conducted several massed ringing festivals. A graduate of the University of Scranton and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, his full-time employment is in the field of finance.
Shelley Olsen
Horsham, PA
Shelley enjoys being a nerd with two degrees in Mathematics and a job in Accounting. She has also been ringing since 4th grade in Red Bank, NJ, and has since taken her talent cross-country – west coast tours during high school; Bucknell University under Dr. William Payn; College Station, TX (Gig’em Ags!); back to Red Bank, NJ; Doylsetown, PA; PHE in 2006; and the listening audience of WMMR!
Jacqueline Burdwood
Hopewell, NJ
Jack started ringing at Wittenberg University while studying music and silver jewelry studio art. She has been a percussionist since 2005 and plays a wide variety of instruments across the percussion family. She is an avid sci-fi fan with special places in her heart for Firefly and The Expanse novels. She also enjoys making jewelry in her workshop under the name Silver Sun Metalworks.
Bethan Neely
Princeton, NJ
Bethan began ringing in college, under the direction of Kathy Ebling Shaw at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She graduated in 2016 with a double major in Organ Performance and Sacred Music, and currently serves as Music Director at Faith Presbyterian Church in Medford, NJ. In addition to being a professional keyboardist, Bethan is a trained oboist and enjoys picking up new instruments in her spare time. This is Bethan’s first year ringing with PHE.
Adam Bergstresser
Doylestown, PA
Adam Bergstresser serves as Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul’s. In addition to administrative responsibilities, Adam directs St. Paul’s Ringers and the Westminster Quartet. He also works with Dr. Joseph Ohrt in the direction of the Senior Choir.Adam is a 2016 graduate of the Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor Degree in Organ Performance and Sacred Music.