Kelly Markwell

Kelly, a database administrator for the Illinois Hospital Association, has been involved in music through almost all of his life. He started with piano in kindergarten, adding clarinet/bass clarinet/contrabass clarinet from Junior High through college. Kelly has also sung in vocal choir and ensembles in his school, church and community from high school to beyond college, eventually earning his degree in music education. He has performed in more than 20 musical theater productions from high school through very recent adulthood, playing in the orchestra, performing in ensembles and starring in several leading roles. But Kelly found a calling in his hometown of Plainfield, Illinois by directing an adult handbell choir in church from 2002 through 2019. During that time, Kelly’s large extended family in Illinois performed as a multi-generational five octave handbell choir, enlisting 20 different family members - the Markwell Family Ringers. Kelly's favorite bell solo to ring is “Christmas Bell Medley” by Christine Anderson, his favorite piece to direct is “Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson, and his favorite choir piece to ring is “The First Noel” with GSR. Kelly moved to Somersworth, NH from Silver Spring, MD in June of 2025, with his wife, youngest son, and 3 corgis.