Biographies

Kerry W. Dietz, Artistic Director, began his formal music training at the age of seven (piano) and his church music career (organist) at the age of fourteen. A graduate of the University of Delaware and Westminster Choir College, he studied organ with Lee Dettra and Eugene Roan, respectively, and in Paris, France with Jean Langlais. He also studied voice with Marvin Keenze and conducting with Allen Crowell. Recital venues have included Longwood Gardens and Paris, France.

Kerry served as organist and then Director of Music Ministry at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Wilmington, DE for 12 years. He also worked four years for the Allen Organ Company at the International Sales Headquarters in Macungie, PA. He is the former Minister of Worship & Music at Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Newark, DE, where he served for 24 years, from 1994 to 2018.

Since 2006, Kerry has served as artistic director of the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble, founded by Michael Helman in 2000. Prior to 2006, he was a founding ringer of WHE. He has been involved with handbells as a ringer and a conductor for over 40 years and has been a conductor and clinician for handbell festivals in Newark, DE and Ocean City, MD. Kerry enjoys a variety of music, reading, hiking, cycling, gardening, and traveling. He and wife, Beth, also a founding ringer of WHE, reside in Claymont, DE.

Lisa Barner saw her very first performance of handbells during a First Presbyterian Church of Newark service about 22 years ago. She was so interested in the instrument and choir that she began ringing with them soon afterward. Lisa has also been a member of the First State Ringers in Newark. In her other life, Lisa is a physical therapist who specializes in working with the geriatric population and also with individuals with neurological conditions. She lives in Newark with her husband, with whom she has two adult children.

Mary Browne is a founding member of WHE; she has been ringing handbells steadily since 1985. Her passion for handbell ringing was ignited in 1967 by an experience in ringing handbells to accompany the chorus at her elementary school. One of the things Mary enjoys most about being a member of WHE is being able to share a wide variety of music with audiences, especially music you are not likely to hear on a Sunday morning from a church handbell choir. Mary is an ordained elder in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of The United Methodist Church, and currently serves as Pastor at Ebenezer UMC in Newark. Mary has previously served churches in the Brandywine Hundred area north of Wilmington and in Cecil County. In her earlier life, Mary was an auditor with Price Waterhouse in Philadelphia and Chicago. Mary enjoys doing counted cross stitch, reading, cooking, stamping cards, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Barb Carey has rung in St. Paul's United Methodist Church handbell choir since joining the church in 1990, and with WHE since 2000. Musically, she also enjoys playing flute in a community band. .She substitutes at a local Montessori school a few days a week. Barb and her husband enjoy biking, camping, and hiking. They are happy their two adult children (and one grand-dog) live in the area, and are enjoying their "semi-retired" lives.

Mark Clausing In addition to playing handbells with WHE, Mark plays bells with Ebenezer United Methodist Church's Good Chimes handbell choir. Mark started playing handbells in our nation's bicentennial year when his home church in Tiffin, Ohio purchased two octaves of bells. Musically, he also has enjoyed singing, playing trumpet, baritone, tuba, and piano. Mark was brought to Delaware in the 1980's by the DuPont Company and currently works for and EMS billing company and volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America.

Beth Dietz grew up in the Newark, Delaware area, has a bachelor degree in Instrumental Music Education and an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering. She is retired from the Boeing Rotorcraft company in Philadelphia, where she was a manufacturing engineering project planner. She has played handbells since 1986, starting at St. Paul's UMC, and is a charter member of the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble. Her interests include many types of music, various forms of needlework, gardening, and cats.

Laura Enghofer first began ringing handbells in her childhood church in Chester County, PA. After a hiatus, she took them up again joining the Chancel Ringers at St. Pau;'s United Methodist Church in Wilmington, DE. Laura is the newest member of the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble. She works as a landscape architect to support her hobbies of gardening and travel.

Maria Gillette began ringing handbells as a freshman in high school in her hometown of Cherry Hill, NJ. There, she was very lucky to have been part of a huge music department where she also played piano and French horn. Maria has continued her passion for handbells since her move to Delaware in 1995. She has rung with St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Hockessin and currently rings with Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Newark. Maria resides in Hockessin, Delaware with her husband and two children. When she is not ringing, Maria is a swim instructor for the YMCA of Delaware who enjoys swimming, biking and crossword puzzles in her free time.

Donna Hineman is a lifelong resident of Chadds Ford, PA, and has been ringing handbells since 2002. Since graduating from Grove City College, she has worked in her family's lumberyard, Delaware County Supply Company, which her grandfather started in 1924. Her hobbies include singing, knitting, swimming and following the Phillies.

Beth Jackson grew up in Baltimore, MD, but school (University of Delaware) and work (DuPont Co. ) brought her to Delaware years ago. She is a member of Ebenezer United Methodist church and began ringing handbells in 1996. She has loved ringing bells ever since and is thrilled to be playing with the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble. In addition, she rings with her church bell choir at Ebenezer and also with the First State Ringers of Newark United Methodist Church. Recently retired from 'corporate life' in IT management, Beth enjoys doing volunteer tax preparation, reading, traveling and boating. She and her husband are avid fishermen and when the weather is warm, can usually be found out on the water.

Mark Keeney is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and started ringing handbells in 1975 when bells were purchased for the church. He was graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education from Central Missouri State University in instrumental and vocal music. Mark has been a handbell director for 30 plus years and was a member/director of “Bells for Four” a handbell quartet for over 15 years. Mark moved to Elkton, Maryland in March of 2020. In addition to playing with the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble, Mark plays with the First State Ringers in Newark, Delaware.

Sandy Keeney is a Missouri native, and was graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She was first introduced to handbells in 1982 and has been ringing ever since. Sandy has played with various groups in the Kansas City, MO area, including Rezound! Handbell Ensemble, Avondale United Methodist Jubilee Ringers, and Bells for Four Quartet, as well as performing as a soloist. Since moving to Elkton, MD in March 2020, she has been ringing with First State Ringers in Newark, DE. Sandy joined WHE in September 2021.

Susan Rippin began ringing bells in the summer of 1994 and is a founding member of WHE. She has rung with several church choirs throughout the years as well as small ensemble ringing. Sue has participated in Festival All-Star Choirs in Roanoke, Virginia and Ocean City, Maryland. When she is not ringing, Sue works as a medical writer.

Chris Scorziello started ringing handbells in 2006 and played the trumpet throughout high school. Chris also rings with the Chancel Ringers at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Wilmington, DE. He works at the Dupont Experimental Station providing Facilities Services. Every month he also attends a movie group called "Film, Faith & Fellowship."

Sue Spilecki is a charter member of WHE, and has been ringing handbells since 1984. Sue was raised in the Wilmington area and then moved on to attend Penn State to major in health and physical education. She recently retired from teaching, as well as officiating for girls' high school sports. Sue stays busy volunteering several days per week with PAWS for People, a pet therapy organization based in Newark, Delaware. She also enjoys playing handbells and tower chimes at Westminster Presbyterian Church as well as knitting and sewing projects for 7 wonderful grandchildren!"

Ruthie Toole has been ringing handbells since 1970 and is a charter member of the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble. She has lived and performed in the Newark area since 1984. Ruthie also directs the First State Ringers of Newark United Methodist Church and recently formed a new multi-generational handbell choir, The Genesis Ringers, at NUMC. She has rung in five auditioned Festival All-Star Choirs in Area III of Handbell Musicians of America and was selected to perform in the Virtuoso handbell event in Raleigh, N.C. with the Raleigh Ringers in 2017. In January 2023, she rang in an auditioned production of "Ringing the Nativity," at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Before retirement, Ruthie worked at the University of Delaware. She and her husband, Tim, reside in Newark, Delaware, and have four grown children and 12 wonderful grandchildren!

Lois Torgerson of Wilmington, DE, started ringing handbells in 1998 for The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. She joined WHE in around 2004. Music being one of life's essentials, she also sings with The Delaware Women's Chorus. Besides working as a freelance healthcare writer, she finds joy in volunteer work and in the companionship of family (particularly her new grandson) , friends (including the furry kind) and always, the garden.

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