Handbell
Photo by George Yonnone


 


Meet the Westminster Ringers

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    Linda Blair Linda Blair - Lin began ringing with her church’s bell choir upon its inception in 1992.  She is a Medical Technologist who is currently working as a technical specialist for Becton Dickinson in Sparks, MD.  Linda resides in Upperco with her 2 boys.  In her spare time,
    she is a biker chick and a tri-athlete!
       
    Louise Borneman Louise Borneman - Louise started ringing handbells in January of 1995 with her church’s handbell choir.  She currently directs the Brethren Ringers at the Westminster COB.  Louise teaches fourth grade at Charles Carroll Elementary.  In her spare time, Louise also enjoys playing piano, hiking and camping.  Louise is a charter member of the Westminster Ringers and has served on the Board of Directors.
       
    Kyler Brengie Kyler Brengle - Kyler has spent his entire working career with Carroll County Public Schools as a high school band director, guidance counselor and Career Coordinator.  Currently he is serving as the district’s Career Development Coordinator.  He has been playing in church handbell choirs since his high school years in Middletown, Maryland.  In addition to handbells, he enjoys photography, music arranging, and singing in a men’s quartet.
       
    Peggy Brengle Peggy Brengle - Peggy began playing handbells in 1977 while organist at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.  Upon returning to her native Carroll County, Peggy and husband, Kyler started the handbell choir at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mt. Airy.  Peggy currently plays with the Wesley Carillon at Westminster United Methodist Church.  Peggy performs in four-hand piano recitals and as an accompanist for local and guest artists.  She is the Media Resource Specialist in the Office of Library Media Services for Carroll County Public Schools.
       
    Valerie A. Bush Valerie A. Bush - Born in Weisbaden, Germany, Valerie moved to the US when she was very young and has lived in many states.  Her handbell experience began in NC about 15 years ago and spread through several states.  She has her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, even though she is now mother of three children and one English bulldog, grandmother to Nathan and wife to John.  In addition to ringing, Valerie enjoys traveling abroad, reading, knitting and Swedish weaving and running her own monogramming business called Sew Appealing.  Valerie serves on the Board of Directors for the Westminster Ringers, Inc.
       
    Amy But;er Amy Butler - Amy began ringing in the sixth grade and hasn't stopped since.  This is her first year ringing with the Westminster Ringers.  She also rings with the Joyful Noise! Choir at Milford Mill UMC (Pikesville, MD) where she grew up with bells all around her since her mother has been the handbell director there since before Amy was born.  Amy has also done solos, duets, small ensembles, and even used handbells as her research paper topic in 11th grade!  During college, she rang with the Praise Ringers at Lexington Park Baptist Church under the direction of composer Linda Lamb.  Amy graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 2004 with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and is currently working as the Membership Coordinator for the Y (formerly YMCA) of Central Maryland's Ellicott City Center.  Amy also spends a lot of her time working as a youth leader at her church and is a huge Baltimore Ravens fan.
       
    Christine Eigel Christine Eigel – Christine was born and raised in Hillsboro, OH.  While in first grade, Christine began her handbell ringing skills at Hillsboro UMC.  She continued to develop her skills at the UMC in Berea, where she performed in the bell choirs, in handbell solos and served as an intern with the director.  After graduating from the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin-Wallace College where she majored in music education, with her primary in clarinet, she has accepted an instrumental teaching position at parochial elementary and middle schools throughout Baltimore.  Christine spends most of her spare time with her church family from Horizon Church.  On Sunday, she can sometimes be found assisting with worship leadership using her piano, vocal and clarinet skills. Christine serves on the Board of Directors for the Westminster Ringers, Inc.
       
    Linda Franklin Linda Franklin - Linda began ringing handbells in the mid-1970's, and is currently a member of the Graceham Moravian Handbell Choir. A graduate of Western Maryland (now McDaniel) College and Duke University, her career as a marine biologist has led her around the world and back home to Maryland. In her spare time, she is busy restoring her mid-19th century family home.
       
    Debbie Henning Debbie Henning - In addition to teaching private piano lessons, Debbie administers and teaches Kindermusik of Carroll County.   She has been involved with handbells for over 30 years as both a ringer and a director (West Chester University, St. Paul's UCC, Westminster UMC, Westminster Church of the Brethren).  She currently directs the Homespun Ringers - a homeschool bell ensemble in Westminster and the Chancel Choir and handbell program at Gettysburg UMC in Gettysburg, PA.  Debbie has served as an officer  in AGEHR, having served as Maryland State Chairman and Treasurer for Area III.   Debbie serves as Treasurer and Educational Director for the Westminster Ringers, Inc.  Debbie and her husband, Larry are the founding members of the Westminster Ringers, Inc.
       
    Ruth Howald Ruth Howald – Ruth is our Boring ringer – she lives in the small town of that name, and works in the insurance industry (yawn!).  She has been ringing bells, and occasionally directing, since 1986.  She is currently director of the bell program at Glyndon UMC, as well as a member of their Chancel Choir.  She is the Westminster Ringers' Bookkeeper and a member of the Board of Directors.
       
    Sheena R. Hunter Sheena R. Hunter – Sheena began ringing bells 10 years ago.  She joined the Westminster Ringers, Inc. at its inception eight years ago.  She moved to the low bass bells after the first season and no one since has been able to pry them out of her hands.  When Sheena is not ringing bells, she is a manager at T.G.I. Fridays.  In the little time she has left, she spends competing at canine frisbee events with one of her three dogs, and sometimes even manages to play some soccer. 
       
    Betty Kerwin Betty Kerwin - Betty is employed in the publishing profession as a Prepress Ad Coordinator for Hanley-Wood in Washington, DC.  She was in the church choirs growing up at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Fulton, MD.  After handbells were given as a gift circa1989, she was appointed director because she "knew music".  Her career as a bell director and bell ringer began at the same time.  She currently directs a 3-octave choir, St. Paul’s Lutheran Bells, and is a charter member of the Westminster Ringers and has served on the Board of Directors. 
       
    Scott Montgomery Scott Montgomery - After earning his MS in Nuclear Engineering and working as an engineer and software developer for 15 years, Scott, a third-generation Oregonian, and his wife, Ruth Howald, have settled in Maryland.  He has been ringing handbells for about 20 years and sings bass in his church choir for 13 years.  The next step for Scott and Ruth is to put down roots, planting a vineyard next to their house, just outside of Boring, MD.
       
    Bill Pond Bill Pond - The newest member of the Westminster Ringers! A resident of Westminster since the age of 2, Bill has been ringing bells for 26 years with Westminster UMC's Wesley Carillon and Wesley Quartet. In addition to handbells, he has sung with various college choral groups and has played the fife with the 2nd MD (confederate re-enactment group). He graduated from the University of Tampa with a BA in Fine Arts and has his Teaching Certification and Deaf Education Studies from Western MD College (now McDaniel College). Bill currently is in his 32nd year as an art instructor - the last 28 years with the Maryland School for the Deaf. He is grandfather to 4 grandchildren and loves crafts such as knitting, crocheting and tatting. He has a patent on a metal art technique, but you can also find Bill at the local swimming hole!
       
    Linwood Row Linwood Row - Linwood’s earliest encounter with handbells was in the fifties on one of the  first sets imported to the U.S.  He has since directed ensembles at Westminster UMC and McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College).  Linwood played with the Westmoreland Symphony (Greensburg, PA) as a part-time clarinetist.  He is employed as a computer analyst/programmer at Montgomery College.  Linwood is a charter member of the Westminster Ringers, Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors.
       
    Randy Werts Randy Werts -  Born in Madrid, Spain to USAF Military parents, Randy just recently moved to Carroll County to live in a log cabin in the woods.  He is co-owner and president of the family business - Potomac Fences, Inc.  A Civil War history fan who enjoys playing music and is keyboardist/Worship Team Member at Harvest Church in Hampstead, MD.  Randy is married to Dana and they have two college aged children.
       

    The following photographs were by Jen Hogue Photography:
    Linda Blair, Louise Borneman, Kyler Brengle, Peggy Brengle, Valerie Bush, Christine Eigel, Debbie Henning, Ruth Howald, Sheena Hunter, Betty Kerwin, Linwood Row, Randy Werts

    The following photographs were by Kyler Brengle:
    Laura Baker, Amy Butler, Linda Franklin, Scott Montgomery

     
   
     
Westminster Ringers, Inc.
737 Holland Lane
Westminster, MD 21158
410-848-5482
director@thewestminsterringers.org
Copyright 2007 Westminster Ringers, Inc.