OUR ENSEMBLE

Established in 2003, the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble (PHE) is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of auditioned, advanced-level handbell ringers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Its repertoire spans original compositions, transcriptions of classical literature, and arrangements from a wide array of musical genres.  An advanced range of ringing techniques allows the Ensemble to move beyond the traditional handbell sound and redefines the character of a single instrument, whether it’s through percussive stopped sounds or poignant echoes or a shimmering decrescendo.

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Our ensemble currently plays on six and one-half octaves of Schulmerich bells. In addition, PHE plays three and one-half octaves of Whitechapel handbells, two octaves of Schulmerich Silver Melody Bells, five octaves of MelodyChime® chimes, and the lower sixth and seventh octaves of Malmark Choirchime® chimes. A large number of percussion instruments round out our ensemble’s artistic presentation.