Matt Adler comes from a musical family. He is part of a 3rd out of 4 generations of brass players. While in middle school, Matt was introduced to bell ringing in church. Matt has been a part of the group since 2010. He and his wife have two wonderful sons.
Deb Artim has been playing handbells for 20 years and piano since she was four years old. She works as an instructor in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. Deb is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Three Rivers Ringers.
Bobbie Calhoun lives in South Park and has been involved with music forever. She initially played flute and piccolo, but has focused on handbells for 35 years. She has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Education, a minor in Music Education & owns a patent. She has two children and four fantastic grandsons.
Beth Dakin has been ringing handbells since 1985 in choirs in Virginia, Georgia and Pittsburgh. She has a PhD in Genetics and works as a researcher in the Biology Department at Duquesne University. Beth and her husband have a son and a daughter.
Bjorn Dakin joined TRR in the 2015-2016 season. He has rung in various church bell choirs since 2000 when his wife Beth recruited him. He is a partner of English Dakin Law, P.C. after being a prosecutor in Pittsburgh for nearly 17 years and lives with Beth and their son and daughter in Allison Park.
Samantha DeFurio learned to ring handbells as a child and since has been a ringer and director with her church’s various handbell teams. She currently works as a Certified School Nurse at a local middle school, living in Bethel Park with her husband, daughter and son.
Cynthia Donahoe learned to ring handbells as a child and currently directs the Handbell Ensemble at Southminster Presbyterian Church. She is a volunteer and is the Recording Secretary for the Board of South Hills Interfaith Movement. She lives in Mt. Lebanon and has three grown daughters.
Jeffrey K. Funk has been ringing handbells for over 20 years. He lives in the Penn Hills area and has a PhD in Chemistry from Penn State University. He has worked as the laboratory manager for MAX Environmental for over 10 years, enjoys gardening and has way too many houseplants.
Carolyn Gulassa Carolyn loves all things music, and has been ringing handbells since 1997. She learned at her church, Wilson Presbyterian. She is a licensed insurance and travel agent. Most of all, being a new wife and mom, she is very happy to share her love of music with the next generation.
Jamison Ignatius has been playing handbells since fourth grade and is excited to pick them up again after a long hiatus. She also plays french horn. She enjoys making pottery and playing board games in her spare time.
Caleb Onstead A nationally recognized composer at 25 years old, Caleb has been active in handbells for 19 years. His compositions have been chosen for events like Distinctly Bronze and Bay View Week of Handbells. He has also performed with various community handbell ensembles across the country including Zenith in 2023 and 2025.
Emily Paus has been ringing handbells for 24 years and is in her first season with TRR. A Pitt graduate with degrees in Exercise Science and Physical Therapy, she runs her own private cleaning business. She coaches and plays softball and enjoys biking. She lives in Dormont with her husband Graham.
Alison Peters learned handbells by joining Southminster Presbyterian’s Handbell Ensemble over 15 years ago. She is a CPA who has her own CPA firm.
Sarah Boice Stecker is a veteran member and the Artistic Director of TRR. She graduated from Grove City College in 2014 with degrees in English and Music and works locally as a musician and educator. She currently teaches choir, piano, and theory at Canon-McMillan High School.
Kelly Thompson started ringing handbells in middle school at Good Shepherd Church in Braddock. Now, she is the Director of Handbell Ministry at St. Joseph the Worker Parish. She is a 6th grade English teacher at Reach Cyber Charter School.