Members of the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble

Amanda, now in her 15th 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.

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 2009. 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.

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 helped found the Genocide Intervention Network. 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 the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2008.

Lauren has been ringing handbells for 11 years. Most recently, she played for four years with the Rooke Chapel Ringers at Bucknell University. Lauren earned a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering while at Bucknell and then went on to earn her Masters in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University. She currently works as a project engineer for West Pharmaceutical Services. In her free time Lauren enjoys hiking, biking, cooking, and hanging out with friends. She joined the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2009.

Peter has been ringing handbells for 20 years. In addition to the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble he has performed with the Ringers on the Green in Morristown, NJ, the Rooke Chapel Ringers of Bucknell University, and Distinctly Bronze East. He is a Physician Assistant for the emergency department at Underwood-Memorial Hospital. His passions include good food, coffee, running, and the Jersey Shore. Peter joined Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble in 2006.

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.

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 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 married daughter and a son in college. Bob is also a life-long Phillies fan, an addict of Japanese wordless logic puzzles, and an avid beader. Bob is a charter member of Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble.

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.