GVSU Carillonneur Julianne Vanden Wyngaard became the fourth American woman and thirteenth American overall to graduate from one of the most prominent carillon schools in the world this summer.
The longtime Music faculty member recently returned to the United States after spending six months completing her fourth session of studies at the Netherlands Carillon School.
I am realizing what an exciting time it is to be a carillonneur in west Michigan, says Vanden Wyngaard. This diploma I have earned is comparable to a bachelor's degree in music here in the states.
Vanden Wyngaard began her carillon studies at the school in 1996, about a year-and-a-half after the Cook Carillon was installed and dedicated.
I decided if I wanted to be the university's official carillonneur, I would have to study with the masters, says Vanden Wyngaard. President Lubbers was most supportive.
Specializing in carillon performance, her curriculum included courses in arranging, history of the instrument, programming of the instrument, care and use of the auto-play feature, and literature of the instrument.
Multiple faculty members, many who have performed at GVSU, taught the courses. Her primary instructor was Bernard Winesemius, who also plays the organ, in addition to the carillon.
I have just completed what is known as the first phase of carillon study and have been invited back to complete the second phase, which is comparable to a master's degree, says Vanden Wyngaard.
While attending carillon school, she played carillons in Utrecht, Venlo, Nijkerk, Tilburg, Voorschoten, Zoetermeer, Breda, and Onze Lieve Vrouw in Amersfoort.
Each instrument is different in its number of bells, tuning, configuration (the relationship of the bench to the pedals of the keyboard), and in sound details, explains Vanden Wyngaard.
One of the highlights of Vanden Wyngaard's carillon studies occurred when she was asked to play for Queen's Day, a national holiday celebrating the Queen's birthday.
I had a crash course in all the music, thoroughly enjoyed myself, and felt truly honored to be asked to play in that particular tower on a very special day in the Netherlands, says Vanden Wyngaard.
Vanden Wyngaard will give the closing performance of Grand Valley's International Carillon Concert Series Sunday, August 20 at 8:00 p.m. at the Cook Carillon on GVSU's Allendale campus.
The concert is free and the audience is enoucraged to bring picnics, Frisbees, and something to sit on.
