Rings to
Inspire the artistic development of a
Noteworthy ensemble, which promotes the
Growth and appreciation of handbell ringing by
Serving a variety of audiences.

Phyllis Kirk – Phyllis is a well-known handbell conductor. She has conducted Handbell Festivals in 38 states, in 9 of the 12 Areas of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, National Handbell Festivals in Iowa and California, 3 Handbell Festivals in Canada, and was sent to represent the American Guild as conductor at the International Handbell Symposium in Australia. She served 2 terms on the National Board of the AGEHR. She loves handbells, and specializes in producing a variety of sounds made by different techniques of handbell ringing. Her ultimate goal is always to produce beautiful music, whether a robust Toccata or a smooth, exquisite Pavanne. Phyllis also directs the Newcomer Singers; is Minister of Music at Grace Christian Church (DOC) in Helena, AL and is Chair of Area VI of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

Anne Graves – Anne began ringing bells at her church, Shades Crest Baptist in Bluff Park, where she continues to ring with the Jubilation Ringers. She also directs the Allegro Ringers at Shades Crest. Anne plays flute in the orchestra and sings in the choir at Shades Crest. Anne also enjoys playing the celtic harp and is a member of the International Society of Folkharpers and Craftsmen. Anne graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business from Samford University in Birmingham. Anne is married to Stan, has two grown children, Leah and Matt, and is the proud grandmother of Anna Marie, Amelia, Wade, and Savannah.

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Becky Miracle – Becky has always loved music. She sings and plays cello, electric bass, string bass, percussion and handbells. She started playing bells in 1998 when she moved to Birmingham and now can't imagine her life without them! She can play 4 in hand (when the need arises). Becky was a part of the organizing team. She has participated in many regional festivals and the 2000 International Handbell Symposium in Birmingham, England, the 2004 Symposium in Toronto, Canada and 2006 Symposium in Brisbane, Australia. In her spare time, she enjoys her work as a Licensed Massage Therapist (Line forms at the right!) and spending time with her family.

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Beth Weeks – Beth considers music to be a great blessing in her life, mostly because of the enduring friendships with teachers, directors, and fellow performers.   Born and raised in Toledo, OH, piano lessons began at age 5, and studies continued with Virginia Snyder through high school, then at Ohio Wesleyan University for two years with concert pianist Joanne Hopper.  She played clarinet in high school band and orchestra, and soprano and tenor recorder in a city-wide ensemble for performances at the Toledo Museum of Art and local churches.  She was an accompanist on piano and harpsichord for soloists and choirs in music competitions.   A member of Christ Church United Methodist in Birmingham. Beth joined Embellishments in January, 2008, after substitute ringing for several years.  She and husband Shane are the parents of two grown children.  She has owned and operated EMLABS, Inc. for over 25 years, providing electron microscopy services to hospitals, pathology groups, and medical researchers.

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Carolyn Lott – Bio on Carolyn coming soon.

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Cathy Henry – Cathy began playing handbells when her choir director discovered she was spending an hour of quiet time tucked away in a corner of the church while her son was participating in youth activities. Down time is strictly forbidden in her life! Along with Embellishments, she plays with the Celebration Ringers at Riverchase UMC, sings in both the Sanctuary Choir and Chamber Choir there, as well as a community choir, Cahaba Chorale. She currently works as a bookkeeper for the After School Care Program with Shelby County Schools in between her volunteer jobs with the Boy Scouts of America and Habitat for Humanity. She has three grown children all of whom have followed in her musical footsteps.

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Donna Williamson – Donna has been playing handbells for 15 years and with Embellishments for 4 years. She started playing bells with her church handbell choir and never Stopped! She also plays the piano and flute. She is a graduate of Auburn University and is currently a pharmacist working for Davis Drugs in Columbiana. Donna has a grown son and a twelve year old daughter.

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Elizabeth Judd – Elizabeth was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and was graduated from The University of Toronto where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education. She played in many local, provincial and state badminton tournaments as well as the Canadian and American Open Championships. After moving to Birmingham and raising a family she was asked to join the handbell choir at her church. She has been playing bells ever since. As a member of the former Covenant Ringers, she played in many Bell Festivals in the USA as well as Japan, England and Canada. She is an original member of the Embellishments. Elizabeth has retired as a regular ringer and is currently a substitute.

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Holley Dykes - Holley’s passion for handbells began at the age of 11, when her choir director at Woodlawn United Methodist Church (Francis Killingsworth) organized a youth handbell choir. Holley is a charter member of Embellishments, where she enjoys the challenge of level six music. She has participated in many handbell festivals and attended the 2004 International Handbell Symposium in Toronto. As a member of Christ Church United Methodist she plays in the handbell choir; directs the Cherub Choir; Directs handbells for children at music camp; and sings alto in the church choir. Her love of music extends to piano and flute, which includes ten years of piano with Mrs. Romaine Smith and four years of flute with Mrs. Gerald Smith. At Woodlawn High School she plaed in the symphonic and marching bands; sang in the choir and girl's ensemble; and was the accompanist for the mixed ensemble. Holley graduated from Auburn University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in Special Education. She is a substitute teacher for the Shelby County Board of Education. Holley is a single mom of three grown children. In her spare time Holley's interests include mission work, international traveling (especially Italy), camping, hiking, canoeing, dancing (just learning) and working with special needs children.

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Jim Kimble – Jim is an ophthalmologist specializing in retinal blood vessel diseases. He learned to read music and play a little piano from his mother at an early age, played brass in junior high through college, then sold his French horn to pay for his wife's wedding ring. He has been playing handbells in his church choir since 1980, and has been teaching third graders to ring since 2006.  Embellishments "hooked" him the first time he heard the ensemble play, in December 2004.

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Laura Thuirer - Laura got hooked on handbells as she earned a bachelor's degree in music education at Florida Southern College and has been playing ever since. She earned a Master's degree in mathematics education from the University of South Florida and has been teaching middle school mathematics for 26 years. In 2007, Laura became a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Mathematics.  She is currently teaching 8th grade Algebra at Homewood Middle School and coaching the Algebra Math team. Since 1986, Laura has served as a Province President for Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity, guiding collegiate and alumni chapters in the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Since 2009, she has served as the National Treasurer. Having served several United Methodists churches in Florida directing children, youth and adult choirs and handbell choirs, she now enjoys just singing and ringing in her church choirs in addition to ringing in Embellishments since its inception.

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Lauren Gilbert –Lauren has been involved in some type of music for as long as she can remember. She started taking piano lessons at the age of four. At the age of 8, she began playing handbells with the children and adult handbell choirs. She was a member of the marching band and wind ensemble at Oak Mountain High School where she played percussion and led the band as drum major for two years. She was involved in many musical ensembles at Samford University including the drum major of the marching band for 3 years, the steel drum ensemble and Bells of Buchanan. Currently, Lauren is a special eduction teacher at Spain Park High School where she continues to stay involved in music by helping with the marching band.

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Nancy McCracken - Nancy has been ringing handbells almost as long as she has been breathing. One afternoon, while waiting for a ride home with the choir director after Junior High Church Choir, she was asked to fill in a vacant spot in the Senior High Bell Choir. She was hooked and has been ringing ever since. As well as ringing with Embellishments since its inception, she has over 36 years' experience playing in church choirs, ensemble groups, duets, and solo ringing. She majored in Music at Huntingdon College, but needed to find a way to pay the bills. This led to her earning a Master of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from UAB. A Physical Therapist at Lakeshore Rehab Hospital by trade, she views ringing as one of the ways she keeps in touch with music, which was always her first love. She enjoys being a part of the only single instrument that is played by multiple performers. Husband Paul is infinitely patient and understanding of the time commitment involved, and his support is treasured. Also, Nancy is the proud Nana to Lexi, the cutest grandbaby ever!

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Natasha Bettis – Natasha rang in church handbell choirs from 6th grade through high school in Lamar, MO. During her first year at Kansas State University (Go Wildcats!), she joined the Inspiration Ringers at Manhattan Christian College. Upon earning her B.S. in Architectural Engineering she became a Mechanical Engineer in Dallas, TX where she designed heating and cooling systems for resort hotels. After four years in an office, she left to spend a summer firing steam locomotives for a California tourist railroad. One summer led to seven years with steam-powered tourist railroads in four western states. Nevertheless, as a seventh-generation Tennessean, she happily moved east. She is now a Traffic Systems Engineer for the City of Birmingham and still railroads part-time as a Locomotive Engineer in Huntsville, AL. After more than 18 years without touching a handbell, she is thrilled to be ringing again.

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Richard Dickson - Richard became interested in ringing handbells in 1990 when, while waiting for a church directory picture to be made of the Chancel Choir, he was asked to grab 2 bells and be in the picture of the handbell choir. The rest is handbell history. He has always sung in church, school, and civic choruses as a baritone/tenor since elementary school in Birmingham, AL. And a few early years of piano lessons has helped grasp the art playing handbell music. He is one of the original members of "Embellishments" and has always played bass bells since its inception. He attends Canterbury United Methodist Church in, Mountain Brook, AL. Richard has three grown children, two daughters in Raleigh, NC and one son, an Army Special Forces Medic in Birmingham, AL and one granddaughter and two grandsons in Raleigh.

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Rita Fulton – Rita earned her BA in Mathematics from Birmingham Southern College and is currently an actuary for Protective Life Insurance Company. She developed a love for music at a very young age, began piano lessons in the second grade and organ lessons in the fourth grade. During Rita's high school years, she played flute and oboe in her high school band and was the organist for the youth choir at her church. Her love for handbells began in 1983 when she began playing with a church choir. Rita was a member of Christ Church United Methodist's handbell choir from 1984 - 2007 and was the director of this choir from January 2000 - May 2007. Rita is currently a member of the Celebration Ringers at Riverchase United Methodist Church. She joined Embellishments in 2002. Rita has two daughters and is the proud grandmother of three beautiful grandchildren with a fourth on the way.

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Scott Montgomery - Scott is a third-generation Oregonian who recently moved to Birmingham with Ruth Howald, his wife of over 20 years. After earning his Masters degree in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State, he moved to Washington, then Minnesota, Maryland, Moscow (Russia), Maryland, Louisiana, Maryland, Sydney (Australia), Maryland, California, Maryland and on to Alabama. Scott's hobbies include golf, photography, home winemaking and traveling. The credit (or blame, depending on who you ask) for Scott's 20-plus years of handbell ringing in church and community choirs and other small ensembles goes to Ruth, as well as singing in church choirs for the last 15 years.

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Tricia Parks – Tricia's interest in music began with piano lessons in the third grade. Active in high school and college bands and an accompanist for vocal students in college, her involvement with music faded after graduation. It was rekindled when she decided to join her church handbell choir twenty years ago.  She is a member of the handbell choir at Christ Church United Methodist and joined Embellishments in 2004. Tricia is recently retired which, of course, gives her more time to practice handbells! She met her husband in their high school marching band (he played the trumpet). They have two grown children.

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