Meet Our Members

Kelly Buckman

Member since 2018

Kelly Buckman of Barrington started playing handbells 17 years ago at her church. She graduated from college with a degree in Sign Language Interpretation and worked for a number of years around the Chicagoland area until she and her husband welcomed their first child. Now she spends her time volunteering at a food pantry, fostering kittens for a no-kill shelter and marveling at how her children have grown up. She plays flute and bells at her home church and is grateful for the music in her life!

Amy Calderone

Member since 2009

Amy was introduced to handbells when she was a senior in high school. She has been playing in bell choirs off and on ever since, playing across the country and in Europe. She has a BS in Psychology from Judson University and is now an Analyst for The Nielsen Company. Amy also enjoys reading, watching TV and hanging out with her husband, David.

Denise Caliendo

Member since 2013

Denise began ringing bells in 1995 and soon after became her church’s handbell director. She has been a music teacher/choral director for 27 years and currently teaches at Jane Addams Jr. High alongside her husband, Eric, the band director. Denise enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, Chris and Cate and step daughter, Nina.

Angie Chiesa

Member since 2018

Angie Chiesa of Chicago started playing bells at Valparaiso University where she also played trumpet in the concert band and earned a BA in Music and a BS in Business Administration. Later she received an MBA from the University of Chicago. She is the Disaster Workforce Engagement Manager at the Red Cross. In her free time, Angie enjoys volunteering, visiting with friends and practicing salsa dancing.

Holly Evans

Member since 2019

Holly Evans was a four- year member of her college handbell choir, playing at mass and concerts, as well as on tour around the country, even on the Great Wall of China! She graduated from Notre Dame in 2017 in Applied Math and Economics and started work at NCSA as a data analyst. Holly moved to Chicago in 2018 and lives in Logan Square. In her free time, she likes to visit her family in Valpo, play board games, watch HS and college basketball, and keep the scorebook at Cubs games!

Jayne Griese

Member since 2012

Jayne learned to ring handbells in 1980 as a counselor at a music camp. The only time she hasn’t been an active ringer was while living in England. Since her whole family rings, they have occasionally done ensemble work together. With her four kids grown, Jayne enjoys spending time with her husband, being with their grandchildren, and ringing with her church choir.

Michele Harbeck Haley

Member since 2014

Michele was introduced to handbells when her mother started a choir at her church. She started and directed a handbell choir in Chicago for 17 years. Michele is a church organist/pianist, plays flute, and has served as a Choir Director. She is the Director of Finance for the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination.

Anne Kivikko

Member since 2016

Anne is a retired band and orchestra teacher of 30 years, and has been enjoying bell ringing for about 20 years. She is very involved in her church’s music ministry, as a choir member, flute player, and handbell director. She lives in Arlington Heights with her husband, Kevin, and enjoys gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.

Kathy Murray

Member since 2011

Kathy lives in Elmhurst and works as a Hospice Nurse for Family Home Health Services, Inc. Upon hearing handbells for the first time in 1990, Kathy was instantly hooked. However, the church needed a bell choir director so Kathy decided to take the job! Having earned her BMU in piano performance from Augustana College, she became a “quick learner” of the art of ringing and has been ringing ever since. Kathy’s life outside of bells includes working as a Hospice Nurse for Family Home Health Services, Inc., and enjoying time spent with family and friends.

Laura Olsen

Member since 2004

Laura lives in Barrington and began ringing handbells in 2003. She also plays flute and piano. In addition to Chicago Bronze, she enjoys ringing handbells with several church ensembles in the suburbs. Grandmother of the amazing, musical Miles Patrick Sladon, Laura also plays flute and tin whistle in the Irish band, “The Ragged Rascals”. She owns and operates A Joyful Sound, Inc., a piano service providing tuning and repair to the Northwest Chicago suburbs for 30+ years.

Bill Ondratschek

Member since 2007

Bill attended North Park College in Chicago where he played in the concert band. Bill received a BA degree and taught elementary education for nine years. He is currently a Senior Account Executive for Rainbow International. Bill started ringing handbells in 1999 and is also a member of the St. John Ringers. Coincidentally, he and his wife, Cheryl, share the same outside interests.

Cheryl Ondratschek

Member since 2005

Cheryl began ringing in 1999. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from North Park College. She was a music educator for 10 years and now works for a telemetry services company. She is currently handbell director at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton. When she is not playing or directing handbells, she likes to garden, bike, and read.

Derrick Sanders

Member since 2015

Derrick has been playing handbells since 2003. In Northern California, he joined a community church handbell choir as a favor to a friend and enjoyed the experience, so he kept playing for the love of music. In 2012, he moved to Illinois. Derrick can also be found go-karting, hanging out with friends, playing video games and checking out the Chicago sites.

Cynthia Seputis

Member since 2014

Cynthia began ringing handbells as a member of a trio in 2001. Cynthia holds music education degrees from the University of Illinois and Northwestern University. She teaches at Carpenter Elementary School in Park Ridge and summer courses at VanderCook College of Music. Cynthia can also be found playing her five-string banjo and hanging out with husband Tom and son T.J.

Martha Swanson

Member since 2005

Martha was introduced to handbells on Christmas Eve in 1988 when she was given a crash course in ringing to cover for another ringer. She has been playing ever since and has rung advanced music at conferences and festivals. With a degree in Business Administration from Aurora University , Martha runs a plumbing business and volunteers for Midwest Greyhound Adoption.