Capital Ringers is an auditioned DelMarVa community handbell ensemble located in Dover, Delaware. We ring 5 octaves of Schulmerich handbells and 5 1/2 octaves of Malmark choirchimes. We are dedicated to musical excellence and service to the community through artistic handbell performances and educational outreach to promote the art of English handbell ringing. Our regular rehearsals are Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM at Wesley College Chapel, Division & Bradford St., Dover, DE.

We are a member of the Handbell Musicians of America,  Area III.

We are available to play for your event (concerts, weddings, special celebrations and dinners, community events, civic and corporate functions, and Christmas parties). We are also available to conduct reading sessions and workshops for local ringers.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Capital Ringers or want to book a performance, please e-mail us at director@capitalringers.org We’re also interested in those who may want to become substitute ringers.

Members of Capital Ringers

Linda S. Simms is the founder and artistic director of Capital Ringers, Inc., a community handbell ensemble, based in Dover, Delaware. Linda earned her master’s degree in music education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She is a former Area 3 Chair and Delaware State Chair, who is currently serving as Area 3's Delmarva State Chair and Education Liaison. Linda actively assists handbell directors and ringers by conducting massed ringing events and workshop and has taught and conducted at local, Area 1, Area 3, and National Handbell Musicians of America events. After teaching music in public schools for 20 years, and serving churches in Maryland and Delaware, Linda teaches piano in her private studio. In addition, Linda shares her "free time" with husband, Jim, and son, Nathan.

Heather Beauchamp has rung with the Heavenly Ringers at Asbury United Methodist Church, Harrington, Delaware for three years.  She was raised in Harrington, and has returned to her alma mater school district, Lake Forest, to work in the capacity of school psychologist.  Heather graduated from Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  In her spare time, she enjoys anything related to water, which is one of the reasons she enjoys coaching with the Lake Forest Swim Club.

Will Covington lives in Centreville, Maryland and is a member of Centreville United Methodist Church.  There he sings and rings (ideally not at the same time).  Will attended Washington and Lee University, and works on his family’s farm.  He enjoys reading, birding, and woodworking.

Susan Eshelman began studying music at age 8 instrumentally with clarinet at school and vocally with her church.  In middle school, she decided to take up flute, tenor sax and bells.  She continued to ring bells at Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA.  In 2000, she joined the Dover Presbyterian Bells of Praise with Karin.  When not ringing bells, she’s a meeting room leader for Weight Watchers, NA.  Susan resides in Lincoln with her husband, Bryan, two teenage sons, Steven and Andrew, and blue point Siamese, Jewel.

Karin Faulhaber learned to play handbells while attending college at Wake Forest University. Since then she has played in church choirs. She is currently a member of the Bells of Praise at the Presbyterian Church of Dover. Karin works for the State of Delaware in Dover.  She has two grown children, Kristin and Drew.

Christine Fox began her music studies at a young age with flute and piano and first rang with her church handbell choir at age 11, at West Side Presbyterian Church in New Jersey.  She enjoyed snare drum, as well while in her high school marching band, and continued on to major in music education at Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT. However, bitten by the science bug, her studies lead her to dentistry at  Union College where she received an AAS degree in Dental Laboratory Technology, and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ where she received her DMD degree in 1994. Presently, Christine is a general dentist in Dagsboro, DE, and she also rings handbells with the Deo Gloria Ringers at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, in Rehoboth Beach. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Thomas, antiquing, taking their collie, Bella, for long walks and attending the many activities participated in by her two teenagers, Lia and David.

Betsy Gray Betsy Gray learned to ring bells in 1974 at the First Presbyterian Church of Warren, Ohio.  Currently, she directs the Bells of Praise and the Glory Ringers of Presbyterian Church of Dover.  Betsy also sings with the Delaware Choral Society as well as Faithful in Flannel and the Chancel Choir of the Presbyterian Church. Recently retired after teaching and doing home daycare for 37 years, Betsy enjoys reading, playing piano and doing counted crossstitch. Betsy is married to Jimmy and together they have 4 daughters and 2 grandaughters

Karen Jerolamon* of Dover, began ringing with The Bells of St. Andrew’s in 1993. She is the librarian at her alma mater, Dover High School. She graduated from Catawba College with a major in sociology, and received her Master’s of Instruction/Library from the University of Delaware. Karen enjoys her job, church activities, reading, and cross-stitching. She is the mother of one son and proud grandmother of two beautiful grandchildren.

 Brenda Powers makes her home in Milford, DE after being born and raised in Arkansas.  She has played in the handbell choir at Avenue United Methodist  Church since 1990 and other musical interests include piano, organ, and singing in the choir.  She retired from teaching elementary school after 36 years and enjoys spending time with granddaughter Sofia, reading, sewing, quilting, and scrapbooking.  She and husband Gary, have three grown children, Lance, Lynn, and Amy.

Gwen Pritchett came to Delaware in 1977 to study music at Wesley College, graduating with an AA in 1979. She began ringing handbells at her home church in Bridgewater, NJ starting at age 8, continuing in H.S. at South UMC in Manchester, CT.  She rang more recently at Wyoming UMC for 25 years.  She’s recently employed by Home Instead Senior Care Agency.  She’s married to Claude and is mom to her two wonderful sons, Joseph and David, and Zippo, the epileptic wonderdog.

Andy Siegel  was born and raised in Dover, DE.  He joined the U. S. Navy after high school and retired as a Chief Petty Officer after 21 years of service in nuclear submarines.  He is currently employed with the City of Dover as the Director of Information Technologies.  He plays trumpet in the Dover Symphony Orchestra.  He is married to his high school sweetheart, and they have five grown, wonderful children.

Velvet Siegel, a Dover native and Navy wife, received her BEd in Secondary Music Education from the University of Hawaii.  She is an orchestral strings teacher in the Appoquinimink School District.  Velvet is the Principal Trumpet for the Dover Symphony and directs the Church Orchestra.  She, too, is married to her high school sweetheart and has the same five wonderful children.

Vicki Stockslager* is Operations Manager for Delmarva region of MidAtlantic Farm Credit.  She enjoys playing piano and vibes, and has loved ringing handbells since 1987.  A Delaware native, Vicki resides in Camden with her husband Al, daughter Katie, and Molly (the best dog in the world).  Their  oldest, Breanne, is pursuing her bachelor's degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

Jim Willard*  has been ringing handbells since 1985 with the Bells of St. Andrew’s during which time he has participated in many handbell festivals.  Jim is the assistant director of the youth handbell choir, the RAD Ringers, at St. Andrew’s.  When not ringing, Jim is an inside salesperson for United Electric Supply Co. in Dover.  In his spare time, he enjoys watching NASCAR racing, NFL football, and spending time with his daughter and family.

* denotes Charter Member