Front Row: Emily Kolarich, Sue Nearpass (retired)
Row 2: Michelle Grant, Mike Keller (Director), Marcia Poisel
Row 3: Karen Klutzke, Brenda Snyder, Becky Pfeifer, Karen Wiggins
Back Row: Jim Bennett, Kris McCombs, Randy Poisel
Not pictured: Susie Bland, Mandy Martin, Scott Pfitzinger
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Director: Mike Keller
Mike has been the director of the Circle City Ringers since the ensemble formed in the spring of 2005. He also directs the Wesleyan Ringers of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.
Originally from Peru, Indiana, Mike is a 1992 graduate of Indiana State University where he studied music while obtaining a degree in Criminology. Mike is a former Drum Major of the Indiana State University Marching Band. He has served as a staff instructor for many high school and college band camps, and also plays trombone in several swing bands and theater pit bands.
Mike is a licensed funeral director and owns a local mortuary service … No, really!! He also serves as a deputy coroner in Hamilton County and loves spending time with his four sons.
Mike is recognized for his conviction that “making music should be fun” and enjoys serving as a guest conductor and clinician to other ensembles. What he enjoys most about handbells is the challenge of making multiple ringers sound like one cohesive ensemble and also performing, bringing the joy of this unique instrument to people who have not experienced it before!
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Members
Becky Pfeifer
Becky has been playing handbells for over 15 years, starting at Trinity Methodist Church, then New Palestine UMC, and in the Circle City Ringers since 2006. She has a BS from Purdue and an MS from Cornell, both in Agriculture, and she works as a Program Assistant for Purdue University – Hancock County. Becky enjoys travel and geocaching and her favorite thing about handbells is the camaraderie of the group.
Brenda Snyder
Brenda has rung handbells since 1988. She has been a part of the Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble (1989-2000) and the Community Church of Greenwood handbell choir (1988-2004), and was a founding member of the Circle City Ringers. She studied vocal performance at Evangel College and has continued singing around the Indianapolis area as a featured soloist as well as in musical theatre and studio work. Brenda is a dispatcher for Keller Mortuary Services and enjoys gardening, long drives, traveling, and decorating. Her favorite part of handbells is playing as an ensemble, knowing that we must all work together to create a moving musical experience.
Dianne Bergeron
Dianne hails from Kokomo and is a dental hygienist who graduated from the IU School of Dentistry. She has been involved with handbells since 1976 (when she was 2 years old). She rang with Grace UMC in Kokomo for 25 years and has been subbing with various groups whenever/wherever possible since then. Last year she was a long term sub for CCR and this year has joined us full time. She enjoys cooking and gardening. She has been ringing so long she can’t imagine doing anything else. “Bells are the first instrument I learned to play… my first love. Awwwww.”
Jimmie Bennett
Jimmie is a founding member of CCR and also rang with Heather Hills Baptist Church for 6 years and Roberts Park UMC for 2 years. He also sings with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. He has an AS in Respiratory Therapy and a BS in Management from IU, and an MS in Administration from the Univ. of St. Francis. Jimmie is a human resources generalist and Pampered Chef consultant (for which we are VERY glad!), as well as working in insurance sales and respiratory therapy. He volunteers at Second Helpings food rescue, as music librarian for the ISC, and as a clerk for the Election Board. He makes crochet and knit crafts in his spare time. Jimmie loves “the joy of making music with a unique instrument and playing more than the notes, as an extension of each member.”
Karen Klutzke
Karen received an Associate’s degree in Industrial Illustrative Design from Purdue and was a graphic designer / art director. Now she is working on a BS at IUPUI to become a physician’s assistant. She has been ringing for almost 20 years, off and on, including at Central Presbyterian in Lafayette and Orchard Park Presbyterian in Carmel. Besides handbells, Karen has also played clarinet, cello, and piano. She makes stained glass and enjoys crocheting and gaming. Her favorite part of playing handbells is being in an ensemble and coming together to perform music.
Karen “K-Dub” Wiggins
K-Dub has been playing handbells for almost her whole life, including with the Purdue Bells (98-04), Wesleyan Ringers at St. Luke’s UMC (04-05), Old South Ringers in Boston, MA (05-06), and in CCR since 2007. She works as an academic advisor at Purdue University, where she received her BS in Ecology & Biology Education. While in Boston, she received an MS in Science Journalism. Besides playing handbells in ensembles and as a soloist, she also plays oboe and piano. Since she is soon to be certified as an Indiana Master Naturalist, she can often be found geocaching or volunteering at the Columbian Park Zoo and Wabashika Nature Center in Lafayette. Her favorite part of handbells is the teamwork, where each person is critical to the success of the ensemble.
Kristen McCombs
Kris has spent about 25 years ringing, getting her start in the 1st Presbyterian Culley Handbells in Parkersburg, WV, in 1968. She rang for 7 years at Second Presbyterian in Indy, 3 years at First Pres. in Ft. Wayne, 14 years in the Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble, and was a founding member of CCR. Kris received her BM in Education/Organ at Westminster College and works as a receptionist/clerical support for Morrell, Inc. When not obsessing over genealogy research, she pursues gardening, photography, traveling, and home decorating. She particularly enjoys the ensemble aspect of playing handbells, where everyone has to work together to feel as one.
Mandy Martin
Mandy first rang handbells in the early 90s with 1st Presbyterian Church in Franklin, IN, and has been a regular since 2003, including at Pluckemin Pres. (NJ), Joyful Rhythms (St. Luke’s UMC, Indy), and CCR since 2007. Her BS in Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech has been followed up with EYT Certification as a yoga instructor. Mandy plays piano, teaches yoga, and is proud to be a former glue salesman. Her interests are yoga, fitness, family, and cooking. She likes the challenges that come with playing handbells along with connecting with the group to make music together.
Marcia Poisel
Marcia has been playing handbells since she was 15. She started at Leo United Methodist Church (Leo, IN), then spent 15 years ringing at King of Glory Lutheran Church and 11 in the Indianapolis Handbell Ensemble (overlapping). She is a founding member of the Circle City Ringers and has served as the Board Treasurer for the whole time. Marica has an Associate’s Degree in Office Technology from IUPU Fort Wayne and enjoys homemaking, scrapbooking, camping, and spending time with her two new grandchildren. She loves sharing music with others and the fun and fellowship with everyone in CCR.
Michelle Grant
Michelle began her handbell addiction when she was a small child and has fed that addition through many years in the Wesley UMC handbell program, the Purdue Bells, Joyful Sound, and the Circle City Ringers. She received a BA in Art History at Purdue and currently works as a Kindergarten assistant and in the Tasting Room at Sun King Brewery (NOT at the same time!). She enjoys Aikido and other martial arts, baking, and all things involving her feline BFF, Little Prince Oscar. She loves handbells because they’re shiny. And because she’s addicted and must always be ringing. And because she likes the people and the way the group has to come together to play handbells.
Randy Poisel
Randy has been playing handbells for 26 years, both at King of Glory Lutheran Church (he started there in 1986) and in the Circle City Ringers, where he was a founding member. He received a BS in Accounting and Computer Science at Ball State University and works as a computer programmer at Sallie Mae. Outside of handbells, Randy enjoys camping, woodworking, golf, and fishing. His favorite thing about playing handbells is the joy of making music.
Scott Pfitzinger
Scott first took up handbells in 1990 and has rung in or directed several church choirs since. He has played bass bells with Embellish (Grand Rapids, MI, 1999-2004), Joyful Sound (2005), and CCR (2005-present) where he is composer-in-residence. He has received a BM in Music Theory/Composition from Cornerstone University, an MLS in Library Science from IU-Bloomington, and a MM in Music Composition from Butler University. He is a published composer and arranger and also plays saxophone, many sizes of recorders, and is learning more about electronic music. Scott enjoys social networking, puzzles, games, coffee, and all things musical. Scott works at Butler University as a reference and technology librarian and his favorite thing about handbells is the challenge of having so many people on one instrument, like a “living keyboard.”
Susie Bland
Susie began playing handbells at Otterbein United Methodist Church in 1994 and has been involved with CCR since the beginning. She went to Arsenal Technical High School and works as an administrative assistant at Eli Lilly & Co. In her free time, Susie enjoys reading, helping people, and spending time with family. Her favorite part of playing handbells is the teamwork, the fun, and, well, everything else about it!
