Member Profile: Martha Swanson

MARTHA SWANSON lives in Aurora and has rung advanced music at several conferences and festivals across the country. A graduate of Aurora University in 1981 with a Business Administration degree, Martha runs the office for her family’s plumbing business. In her spare time, she volunteers for Midwest Greyhound Adoption, a not-for-profit agency that places retired racing greyhounds in permanent, adoptive homes. With Chicago Bronze since 2005, Martha serves as our Vice President.

Member Profile: Lisa Gutzler

LISA GUTZLER of Mount Prospect is also a charter member of Chicago Bronze. She was introduced to handbells in junior high, and has been ringing ever since. A graduate of Valparaiso University, she majored in Nursing and minored in Spanish. Lisa works as a pediatric nurse at Lutheran General Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys cross-stitch, and traveling with husband, Matt, and daughter, Rachel. Lisa is our equipment manager.

Member Profile: Laura Olsen

LAURA OLSEN lives in Barrington. She plays flute and piano and sings in her church choir. Music is central to her professional life as well. She owns A Joyful Sound, Inc. a piano service business and is a registered member of the Piano Technicians Guild. Now that her 3 sons are grown, she finds time to pursue other interests such as sailboat racing and bicycling.

Member Profile: Jolinda Pacay

JOLINDA PACAY resides in Rolling Meadows is another charter member of Chicago Bronze. She earned a BS in Education from Western Michigan University and has taught primary grades and special education in the northwest suburbs. In her free time, Jolinda enjoys being a grandma for her granddaughters, Savannah, and Lily.

Member Profile: Joanne Nick

JOANNE NICK of Island Lake has been ringing handbells on and off since third grade, and also plays the oboe and euphonium. She graduated with her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was a member of the Marching Illini. Joanne works as a psychiatric case manager at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her husband and playing with their Labrador Retriever, as well as stamping and cross stitching.

Member Profile: Fred Snyder

FRED SNYDER lives in Chicago with his wife and twin daughters. Fred is a charter member of Chicago Bronze and has been ringing handbells since 1983. He is also an accomplished soloist. Fred sings tenor, plays guitar, and occasionally harmonica. In his spare time, Fred is a software developer at World Book. He also is our President.

Member Profile: Cheryl Ondratschek

CHERYL ONDRATSCHEK lives in Winfield with her husband, Bill. Cheryl has a Bachelor of Music degree from North Park College in Chicago and was a music educator for 10 years before entering the business world where she now works for a telemetry services company. Cheryl is also handbell director at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton. When she is not playing with her two pups or taking them for a walk she likes to garden, bike, and read.