Meet Our Ensemble

  Mary Rita has served the Diocese of Pittsburgh for over 30 years both as an organist and as Director of Music Ministries.  She has played handbells for 25 years and, along with her husband, Jim, has developed handbell programs at both St. Bernadette and St. Alexis Parishes.  She holds a BA in Music Education from West Virginia University, and has continued with graduate studies in organ and liturgical music at Duquesne University.  Mary Rita and Jim reside in Economy Borough.  They are blessed with two married children and five beautiful grandchildren 

Carol was introduced to the beauty of handbell ringing in 2010. She is a former preschool teacher with a Bachelor's degree in Special Education.  She is employed part-time at a local YMCA and enjoys providing day care for her grandchildren.  Born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, her home is in Zelienople, PA with her husband Michael.

Debbie has been ringing handbells for 10 years, first in her church handbell choir, and now with Ring Pittsburgh. Deb is a registered nurse by trade and does case management for a national insurer.  In her spare time, Deb enjoys gardening, fitness walking and spending time with her husband, adult children and grandson.

 Yumi is originally from Japan and has been ringing in various handbell groups in the Asia-Pacific area since 1990. She is the current director of the Archangel Gabriel School Handbell Choir and former director of the St. Malachy School Handbell Choir. She dedicates herself to educating future generations and enjoys teaching the art of music and handbells to young children. 

 Susan Michel's love of handbells began more than 8 years ago at St. Richard Parish in Gibsonia, PA.  This rich and fulfilling experience led her to audition for Ring Pittsburgh.  She loves the constant challenge of learning a wide array of musical compositions and playing in different parts of the handbell choir.  Susan also enjoys crosswords, Pirates baseball and pilates.  She resides in Gibsonia with her husband and two sons.  Susan is a Business Systems Manager at Bayer in Indianola, PA.

Donis began ringing handbells four years ago with St. Teresa of Avila Parish before joining Ring Pittsburgh in 2018. She is thrilled to be ringing with this talented group of handbell musicians. Donis holds Bachelors Degrees from Wesminster College and the University of Pittsburgh and works as a microbiologist with UPMC. When she’s not spending time with her husband and three adult children and their spouses, Donis enjoys gardening, cooking, biking, and traveling.

 Erik Roth has been ringing handbells for over twenty years. He earned a BA in Music from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a founding member of the University Handbell Ensemble. Since then, Erik has rung with and directed bell choirs at churches in eastern PA and in Pittsburgh. He currently directs the bell choir at St. John's Lutheran Church of Highland, where he also is part of the Beacon on the Hill musical theater group and a singing quartet called "Sing Boldly". Erik works in IT at a teleradiology company and lives in Ross Township with his wife, Louise.
 

 Lynne is a music teacher, currently teaching piano at the Judah Project at Eastminster Church in East Liberty.  She also substitutes at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School and has taught at Spectrum Charter School.  She fell in love with ringing handbells almost 20 years ago, has been part of a number of church Handbell choirs in the Pittsburgh area, and has attended many local and national festivals.  Lynne is married to Michael, and they have four adult children, most of whom also rang handbells. 

  Coming Soon!

Jackie picked up her first handbells sometime around 2010 in 5th grade after being in her church’s children's choir and has loved the art ever since. She then went to the University of Pittsburgh handbell ensemble and now is proud to play with Ring Pittsburgh. Jackie also played violin in school. Jackie currently works as a paramedic and a vet technician assistant and hopes to get into veterinary school one day! She now lives in Pittsburgh since she graduated.
 

 Ryan has been ringing handbells for most of his life. First at church, then in high school, and penultimately at the University of Pittsburgh where he served as Director of the University Handbell Ensemble for several years. Ryan now continues his handbell hobby with Ring Pittsburgh. Professionally, Ryan works as a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh studying Alzheimer’s Disease and traumatic brain injuries. Personally, Ryan also enjoys learning useless facts, talking politics, eating dessert, and listening to NPR 

 Kelly began ringing handbells when she was in the 6th grade and hasn't stopped since then.  She spent years as a ringer before taking on the role of director of the Good Shepherd Handbell Choir in Braddock, PA in 2015.  Kelly is a graduate of Seton Hill University, where she was also part of the handbell choir, and graduated with her Bachelor's in English Literature.  She is currently a high school English teacher in Clairton, PA.  When not juggling handbells, she enjoys watching movies, reading, or playing board games with friends.