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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Jo Chiko (2016) Executive Committee Secretary
Darien, IL

Jo started ringing at age eight at Christ Lutheran Church of Clarendon Hills, where she now directs the bell choir, which includes her family. She is a classically-trained soprano with a BA in music from Columbia College Chicago, and funds her further musical study by working at the Hinsdale Public Library. She also plays clarinet; dabbles in piano; enjoys archery, needlework, and reading; and is learning, almost imperceptibly, to cook.
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Kristin 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 enjoys chocolate in all of its many forms! Kristin and her husband, Tony, love to watch sci-fi movies and are the proud parents of two rescued dogs, Penny and Mochi.
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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 handbells since age eleven when she was asked to be a sub in her church's bell choir. She is currently working as a nurse at Rush University Medical Center. When not working or playing music, she can most often be found with her nose in a book or watching baking shows.
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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 ETHS. 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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Laura Kopff (2019)
Sycamore, IL

Laura was introduced to handbells in high school, where it was the only instrumental music elective offered! She came back to ringing while working on her PhD in Chemistry at UW-Madison as a "fun way to relax." By day, Laura teaches chemistry at Illinois Math and Science Academy, and when not busy with bells she enjoys baking, being crafty, playing board games, and hanging out with her cats.
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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 four different handbell choirs; to further fuel her obsession she has served as the Central/Southern IL State Chair for Handbell Musicians of America and will be the Faculty Coordinator for National Seminar starting in 2023. When not ringing, she works as a Data Analyst at State Farm and enjoys traveling, napping, and spoiling her two cats.
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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, and spending time with family and friends.
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Kurt Mockenhaupt (1992)
Chicago, IL

Kurt presently serves as Director of Music/Organist at First Congregational Church, UCC, Wilmette. 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 has been ringing handbells since 1979, ever since his mom made him join the church choir (way to go, Mom!). In addition to ringing, he loves to travel—the Philippines, Korea, Ireland, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, China, Germany, England, Italy, Puerto Rico, and counting! As a Transformation Officer at Rush University Medical Center, Darren helps teams design better ways to deliver care to patients.
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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.
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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.
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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 (fun fact: Sarah has been with six companies without leaving). She is an avid Cubs fan and enjoys traveling, music, traveling for music…or anything to keep her busy. "Music is my therapy."
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