One Passion, One Strike, One Sound

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Proclamation

Now Available You may order our audio CD for $15 plus tax and shipping
Welcome!

Please join us in welcoming Robert James Lamb as our new Artistic Director and Conductor as of January 1, 2018. He is a published composer and experienced performer/director. We are very excited to have Robert lead our group and we look forward to continuing to perform new and exciting music under his direction.

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Proclamation

Now Available You may order our audio CD for $15 plus tax and shipping each through PayPal Proclamation Our album features seven octaves of Schulmerich handbells, five octaves of Schulmerich MelodyChimes®, two lower octaves of Malmark Choirchimes®, and five octaves of Dutch Petit & Fritsen bells as accents.

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!

Upcoming Events

  1. First United Methodist Church of Germantown

    April 29 @ 3:00 pm

  2. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Doylestown

    April 29 @ 7:00 pm

  3. Bedford United Methodist Church

    May 5

  4. Spring PHE-ver Workshop

    May 12 @ 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

  5. First Baptist Church of Haddonfield

    May 12 @ 7:00 pm

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Members

Robert James Lamb
Robert James Lamb
Artistic Director & Conductor
An accomplished handbell conductor and published composer, Robert James Lamb has authored music described as “wonderfully expressive” by Beckenhorst Press, Inc. Robert serves as handbell choir director at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ as well as Christ Church United Methodist in New York City. Robert studied handbells with Kathleen Ebling Shaw at Westminster Choir College and rang in the Westminster Concert Bell Choir. While at Westminster, he also trained in music education, conducting, and voice. In June 2018, Robert will serve as Assistant Handbell Director for the Montreat Music and Worship conferences. Equally accomplished as both a handbell musician and vocalist, Robert also sings regularly with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Becky Landon
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.
Ellen Draegert
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.
Kathleen Simpkins
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!
Rob Mygatt
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
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
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.
Jacqueline Burdwood
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
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
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.
Jan Schopfer
Jan Schopfer
Cherry Hill, NJ
Besides ringing in PHE, Jan enjoys playing bell solos/duets, recorder, piano, baritone, melodica, and singing. She is a member of the Holtz Handbell Choir, the NJ MasterChorale, the Philadelphia Recorder Society, and the Haddonfield Pick-Up Band. She loves to spend time with her husband, kids and cats, plus write devotions, knit, bake, and do jigsaw puzzles. She treasures each day as a gift from God and is deeply grateful for all of His blessings.
Victor Cristobal
Victor Cristobal
Princeton, NJ
Victor began ringing one year ago at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ. He graduated in 2016 from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory and Composition and currently serves as the tenor section leader at the Universalist Unitarian Congregation of Princeton. In addition to PHE, Victor is a tenor in The Same Stream Choir and plays the Erhu in the Westminster Chinese Music Ensemble. His passion for music is deeply rooted in the music of video games and he is pursuing a career in the industry.

Spring PHE-ver Workshop Registration is Now Open!

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Get in touch

Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble
P.O. Box 2431
Southeastern, PA 19399
info@phillybells.org