Member Bios
KC Congdon Artistic Director (1992)
Lexington, IL
Music has always been a big part of KC's life, but her love of bells began at sixteen when she toured Europe with the handbell choir from the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton. At seventeen, she became the handbell director at the Evangelical Free Church in Wheaton, and at eighteen, she was the piano soloist for the Moody Concert Band. She then went on to graduate from Northern Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance. KC has been a part of The Agape Ringers since 1992, first as a founding ringer member and now as Artistic Director.
In addition to the Agape Ringers, KC directs Bells In Motion, a Central Illinois community handbell ensemble, the handbell choirs at St. Matthew United Church of Christ in Wheaton, and the handbell choirs at First Congregational Church of Western Springs. She also maintains two piano studios and collects airline miles while teaching advanced handbell techniques and conducting at state, area, national, and international handbell events.
When not directing handbells, KC lives in downstate rural Illinois with her husband, David, where she wears cowboy boots and Wranglers, drives a pickup truck, and helps care for livestock.
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Madeline Chang (2025)
Lisle, IL
Madeline started handbells in elementary school, took a brief pause due to program closure, and then happily returned when she entered St. Olaf College. She is currently pursuing a MS in Applied Data Science at the University of San Diego, while concurrently working as a Financial Analyst Professional at a healthcare company. In her free time, Madeline enjoys crocheting, crafting, and eating snacks.
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Jo Chiko (2016)
Executive Committee Secretary
Darien, IL
Jo started ringing at age eight at Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills. She now directs there and at Gary UMC (Wheaton). A classically-trained soprano, Jo has a BA in music from Columbia College Chicago; pays her rent by working at the Hinsdale Public Library; and funds further musical study as a freelance singer. Jo owns a clarinet, flute, (digital) piano, and guitar; enjoys archery, needlework, and reading; and repairs bells on the side.
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Kristin Paul Diaz (1992)
West Chicago, IL
Kristin discovered handbells in college and quickly became addicted. When not ringing, she is the Library Director at Hubble Middle School in Warrenville, IL. Kristin came to the Midwest from Coeur d’Alene, ID, to attend Wheaton College. She plays flute, piano, and Irish whistle; reads voraciously; and adores dark chocolate. Kristin and her husband, Tony, enjoy watching sci-fi movies, doing puzzles, and hanging out with their dogs, Luna (deaf) and Mochi (crazy).
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Mijin Elsner (2019)
West Chicago, IL
Mijin was first introduced to handbells in 2006, has been to Cambodia and Tanzania for mission trips with her previous handbell choir, and currently serves as handbell director at Jubilee Bible Church in Medinah. She received her BM in Piano in Seoul, moved to the U.S. in 1997, and now teaches piano in the Wheaton area. Outside of music, Mijin enjoys playing golf, watching movies, and spending time with family.
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Kirsten Hendrickson (2013)
Board of Directors Ringer at Large
North Riverside, IL
Kirsten has been ringing bells since she was asked to sub in a friend's choir at age 11 and never left! She enjoys trying out new instruments and can play (in decreasing order of skill) viola, violin, piano, recorder, cello, and banjo. Kirsten works at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center as a research nurse. When she's not working or doing something musical, Kirsten can most often be found with her nose in a book.
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Karen Johnson (2010)
Evanston, IL
Karen started ringing bells as a child in New Jersey. She rang in college at Bucknell University, where she studied biology, and in community groups in the Northeast. After completing her PhD in Virology at Harvard Medical School, Karen moved to Evanston, completed a MSEd at Northwestern, and now teaches science at Evanston Township High School. When not ringing or working, Karen enjoys time with her dog, cat, and horse.
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Kristin Kalitowski–Kowal (2004)
Executive Committee President
Gilberts, IL
KK started ringing in 1990 at Santa Maria (Mundelein). Also a member of Purdue Bells, she pursued a civil engineering degree in her free time. She designs roads as a Project Manager at Civiltech Engineering and directs at Gary UMC (Wheaton). KK has served Handbell Musicians of America as Area 8 Chair, Treasurer, and IL State Chair. May her twin girls catch the handbell bug too!
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Karl Kay (1992)
Oconomowoc, WI
Karl serves First Congregational UCC in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, as Organist and Chancel/Handbell Choir Director. He's rung since 1974 and conducted since 1980. Karl's led handbell workshops in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. He's a published composer and bass-bell specialist, and considers the 240–mile weekly round–trip to Agape rehearsals "worth every mile."
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Kendall Ladd (2022)
Lexington, IL
Kendall began ringing in elementary school at the age of ten and never stopped. She currently rings with two different handbell choirs; to further fuel her obsession she has served as the Central/Southern IL State Chair for Handbell Musicians of America and is currently the Faculty Coordinator for National Seminar. When not ringing, Kendal works as a Research Statistician at Sate Farm and enjoys traveling, napping, and spoiling her three cats.To contact, click here
Linda Lunt (2007)
Executive Committee Treasurer
Elmhurst, IL
Linda has been ringing handbells since 1998. She is the Handbell Director at Bethel UCC in Elmhurst, where she also teaches preschool music. Linda has a degree in computer science and worked at IBM, where she met her husband, Jack. She enjoys reading, movies, travel, and spending time with family and friends.To contact, click here
Kurt Mockenhaupt (1992)
Chicago, IL
Kurt served as Director of Music/Organist at First Congregational Church, UCC, Wilmette, for 26 years, and is now Director of Music at United Protestant Church in Grayslake. In a former life, he taught general music for eight years and was an admin at Chicago’s largest ad agency for 26 years. Kurt received a BM degree in music education from DePaul University, has been ringing/directing since 1982, and especially enjoys ringing solos and in small ensembles.
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Darren Reynolds (1998)
Chicago, IL
Darren's love of ringing started in 1979 when his mom "suggested" that he join the church choir. (Thanks, Mom!) His second hobby is horse math – he owns half of two horses, half of a horse trailer, and a whole truck to haul them places. Darren is a Purdue grad in Electrical Engineering and helps clinical teams at Rush University Medical Center design better ways to provide care to patients.To contact, click here
Brynelle Rozario (2018)
Chicago, IL
Brynelle began ringing in 2012 with the University of Notre Dame Handbell Choir, having previous classical training in piano and violin. She graduated with a degree in chemical engineering and currently works as a quality engineer. In her free time, Brynelle loves collecting plants, going to the movies, cooking, and moving furniture around her Logan Square apartment.To contact, click here
Tommy Stoffels (2019)
Schaumburg, IL
Tommy has been ringing handbells since 2003 at Gary UMC in Wheaton, where he played duets and trios with his sister and mother. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BS in Accountancy and has started a new job at Road Ranger LLC as their tax accountant. Tommy also moved into a new apartment to be closer to work. In his free time, he enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, watching TV, and playing video games.To contact, click here
Sarah Ward (2004)
Munster, IN
Sarah started ringing bells in 1987 at First United Methodist Church in Hammond, IN, where she currently directs the bell program. She has a marketing degree from NIU (DeKalb) and is currently an operations manager with Korn Ferry. She is an avid Cubs fan and enjoys traveling, music, traveling for music…or anything to keep her busy. “Music is my therapy.”To contact, click here
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