Carillonneurs from around the U.S. will travel to Grand Valley State University this summer to fill the air around both campuses with music during the International Carillon Concert Series.
The 24th annual Cook Carillon International Concert Series will take place on Sundays at 8 p.m. on the Allendale Campus, beginning July 1.
Cook Carillon Concerts
July 1 – Student recital and open tower tours
July 8 – Lee Cobb (Cape Coral, Florida)
July 15 – Joey Brink (University of Chicago)
July 22 – Helen Hawley (Grand Rapids)
July 29 – George Gregory (San Antonio, Texas)
August 5 – Sally Harwood (Michigan State University)
August 12 — Carol Anne Taylor (Dallas, Texas)
August 19 – Dennis Curry (Birmingham, Michigan)
The Cook Carillon bells (Photo by Bernadine Carey-Tucker)
Named for major donors and longtime Grand Valley supporters Peter and Pat Cook, who died in 2010 and 2008 respectively, the Cook Carillon Tower contains 48 bronze bells created in the Netherlands. The bells range from 7.5 inches to more than 51 inches, and weigh from 14 pounds to nearly 3,000 pounds. Arranged in a chromatic series, a carillonneur plays the bells after climbing 61 steps to the playing cabin, just below the bells and clock mechanism. Cables connect the bells to a keyboard and pedal board that permit loud or soft tones through a variation of either hard or soft strikes by fists and feet. The size and weight of each bell determines the individual tones.
The 18th annual Beckering Family Carillon International Concert Series brings five concerts to the Lacks International Plaza located at the DeVos Center on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus. These concerts will take place on Wednesdays at noon, beginning July 11.
Beckering Family Carillon Concerts
July 11 – Lee Cobb
July 18 – Joey Brink
July 25 – Tiffany Ng (University of Michigan)
August 1 – Duet: George Gregory and Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, Grand Valley university carillonneur
All concerts are free and open to the public, and last approximately one hour. They will take place rain or shine. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/music, or call Grand Valley’s Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484.
