OUR RINGERS

Pam Ion, Conductor, Arranger & Ringer

As the director, arranger and a ringer in Alpha 4, Pam initiated the formation of Alpha 4 in June of 2001 following a concert and workshop led by Christine Anderson. Her first musical instrument, wooden spoons on pots and pan lids, began prior to age two. A true percussionist, Pam also plays bugle, guitar and handbells, and now plays the piano while learning to play the french horn, baritone and cello.As the first drummer for the Young Americans, she has played timpani and percussion for the Round House Theatre in Rockville, Maryland, for the Gilbert and Sullivan series in California as well as timpanist with the Ohio State Orchestra, and continues to play percussion in her church orchestra as well as with the Carroll County T.A.C.T.I C.C.S Performing Theatrical Group.

Pam has played in and directed handbell choirs as well as performed solos, duets, trios and quartets for over 27 years. She purchased her own set of Malmark solo handbells in 2007 and took them to the 2007 S.E.E. Conference. A Jack-of-all-Trades and master of many, Pam has worn numerous hats over the years: painter, radio broadcaster, journalist, military and civilian nurse, Deacon, educator, caterer, baker/chef, author, actress and several more, while earning a Bachelor degree in Communicative Journalism, obtaining her California Licensed Practical Nurse Certification and completing a Master's degree in Special Education, but ‘mom’ and ‘wife’ are her favorite hats.

As the published author of 'Be a Doer, Not a Viewer' with Vantage Press, she will one day complete her second book of inspirational thoughts and stories. After serving her country for over a decade in the Unite d States Navy, Pam and her husband, Chris, her knight in shining armor, moved to Maryland with their two daughters, Kristen, a music/drama teach at Middletown Middle School and Amber who works for the Rockville Police Department. Music is a huge part of the Ion family who has lived in Gaithersburg for 22 years and will one day retire to a log cabin.

Kristy Farrell, Ringer & Web Page Designer
Kristy was born and raised in York, PA and wanted to be a musician from the first time she saw her brother perform in a concert band when she was five years old. She began her musical life playing clarinet and even majored in music for a brief stint in college.

Following her graduation from Boston University, Kristy moved to Gaithersburg, became a graphic/web designer and joined her brother's church, which happened to have handbells. After watching the handbells for a couple years and playing with the church orchestra, Kristy was asked to join the church handbell group as a substitute. A love of handbells was born and she was excited to hear that a four-in-hand bell group was forming in the church.

Kristy is a co-founder of Roadchix.com, which chronicles the adventures of her and her friend as they travel to one state each year to thoroughly explore the roadside attractions, factory tours, historic homes and unique sites that each state offers. Kristy is currently working on her Master's degree to be a librarian while tending her active toddler and dog.

Nita Roff, Ringer
Born and raised in Statesville, North Carolina, Nita says, "Bells are music to my soul.” Whether she is singing, playing the piano or ringing handbells, music continues to be an important part of her life. She began ringing handbells and acting in church plays as an early teenager and continues to do both. As a member First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, she is most comfortable playing the upper third and fourth octaves (six-in-hand) in the Sanctuary Handbell Choir.

When she’s not playing handbells, she’s singing in either the Sanctuary Choir or with the National Christian Choir where she also serves as the Robe Chairman. While at the University of North Carolina, she met and married Tom.  It was Tom’s job that led them to where they reside in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her oldest daughter, Sheryl, is a sophomore at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV, majoring in Commercial Recreation. Her youngest daughter, Alyssa, is a rising senior at Clarksburg High School and is in the college application process for Architecture. Both daughters have grown up ringing handbells as well. Not only is she a full-time ‘mom’, but she also is a Credentialing Analyst.

Her second home away from home is her church where she serves as a Deacon, Sanctuary Choir Soprano Section Leader, Music Makers Children's Choir Director and Kindergarten Sunday School Director. Her faith in God and love of music, along with two energetic daughters, keep her very busy. It's no wonder she’s been playing handbells for 20 years. For Nita, ringing handbells is a peaceful, tranquil and fun break from her daily duties and activities. She says, "Thank you God for the Beauty of Bells and for Alpha 4.”

Laura Staley, Ringer
Laura was born in Kansas City, MO and then grew up in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Miami, FL, Chicago, IL and Rochester, NY.  As a child, Laura took piano lessons and enjoyed them, and was part of the school band where she played mallet instruments - xylophone, marimba and bells.  After graduating from college, a job moved her to Rockville, MD where she met and married the man of her dreams, Larry Staley. 

In 1987, she showed up to an organizational meeting for a new handbell group at church and heard a giant “click” in her head - she had found her musical niche.  Since then, she has played with handbell choirs, in duets and trios, and as a solo ringer.  Laura and Larry enjoy performing Larry’s arrangements of hymns and patriotic songs with handbells, voice and piano parts.  Alpha 4 convinced her that she could do anything she set her mind to on the handbells while providing her with fun and laughter and fresh challenges year round.

Professionally Laura runs her own company - LS2, Learning Solutions for Leveraged Success! She offers seminars and workshops designed to help technical and scientific professionals in developing solutions to their workplace challenges. In her volunteer life, she teaches marriage enrichment classes with Larry and helps coordinate a small-group ministry in her church.

Kathy Stauffer, Ringer
Born in Ohio and raised in Toronto, Kathy’s music career began with piano lessons at the age of eight. Not totally satisfied with just playing the piano, Kathy went on to play viola in her high school orchestra, and has recently verbalized an interest in playing the viola again.

Each time Kathy watched the Sanctuary Handbells play, she would think to herself, “I would love to play those magnificent bells one day,” but never had the courage to ask. Secretly, she prayed for the courage and opportunity to ring handbells, and when a space became available for an additional ringer, Kathy summoned up the courage and asked if is she could be the new ringer. That was eight years ago, and she’s never looked back, fulfilling her secret dream of ringing handbells.

Courage should be her middle name. As the Music and Worship Service Assistant at her church in Gaithersburg, Kathy is totally engulfed in ringing handbells. When Alpha 4 was forming in 2001 and with absolutely no hesitation, Kathy leaped on board and is now known as the steam engine in the group that loves to go full speed ahead. Alive, alert, awake and enthusiastic, Kathy enjoys sewing, cross-stitch, needlepoint, decorating, playing with her three grandsons, and anything to do with the computer.

Kathy resides in Darnestown with her husband and best friend, Doug. Their oldest daughter, Jen, lives in Brunswick with her husband and three children. Quinne is a senior at University of Maryland and looks forward to a teaching career in elementary education. Their youngest daughter, Hilary, is a freshman at Hood College in Frederick, MD majoring in Chemistry with hopes of going into pharmaceutical development. Kathy is happy serving Christ in her family, her church, and the community through handbell ringing.

FCBG Worship Service
Sunday, March 18, 2012
First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg

FCBG Worship Service
Sunday, May 20, 2012
First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg

Bell & History Finale
Sunday, April 1, 2012
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine

FCBG Worship Service
Sunday, August 19, 2012
First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg

More About Our Events >>