John, a life-long resident of Hagerstown, Maryland began ringing handbells as a child and is currently director of the handbell program at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hagerstown. He also serves as President of the Hagerstown Area Handbell Association and is in charge of planning the bi-annual Hagerstown Area handbell festival. He is also Music Director of the Hagerstown Handbell Ensemble, a community handbell choir based in Hagerstown.

John is a former member of the Cathedral Ringers, an advanced handbell choir at Otterbein United Methodist Church, in Hagerstown. While a member of the Cathedral Ringers he has performed at The Kennedy Center, the Morman Temple in Washington, D.C. and the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. He has also participated in many local and regional handbell festivals.

John currently sits on the board of directors of Hagerstown Choral Arts, Inc. and is the Maryland State Chair for Area III of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.