Father's Day, on June 20, will ring in a popular summer tradition at Grand Valley State University: the International Carillon Concert Series, now in its tenth year. Carillon concerts will then continue throughout the summer on the university's Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.
The series brings to West Michigan accomplished carillonneurs from around the United States and the Netherlands, where the art of the bells dates back five centuries. New this year is "Christmas in July," a program of holiday music last performed at GVSU's annual Christmas Eve carillon concert. Several local carillonneurs known collectively as the Grand Valley Carillon Collaborative will perform the special holiday concert, with free ice cream available for the first 275 listeners.
The summer series takes place on Grand Valley's two carillons the Cook Carillon, housed in a 110-foot-tall tower on the Allendale Campus, and the Beckering Family Carillon, in a 151-foot-tall tower on the Grand Rapids campus just off Fulton Street. Both carillons are comprised of 48 bells, some weighing in at two tons, and are played from large wooden keyboards located in the bell towers.
The hour-long, open-air concerts are free. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, or picnics. Children are welcome. Programs and descriptions of featured carillonneurs are provided at each concert.
The Father's Day concert, performed by Grand Valley's own University Carillonneur Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, kicks off the series on the Cook Carillon. Concerts on the Allendale campus are held Sundays at 8 p.m., June 20 through August 22. Concerts on the Pew Grand Rapids campus are featured Wednesdays at noon in July. A schedule follows.
Cook Carillon Concerts
Sundays at 8 p.m. June 20-August 22
Allendale Campus off M-45 15 mi. west of Grand Rapids
- June 20: Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, GVSU University Carillonneur
- June 27: Carol Jickling Lens, Texas
- July 4: Julianne Vanden Wyngaard
- July 11: Anne Kroeze, the Netherlands
- July 18: Marcel Siebers, the Netherlands
- July 25: Christmas in July the Grand Valley Carillon Collaborative
- August 1: Julianne Vanden Wyngaard
- August 8: John Gouwens, Indiana
- August 15: Dennis Curry, Michigan
- August 22: Todd Fair, Colorado
Beckering Family Carillon Concerts
Wednesdays at noon July 7-28
Pew Grand Rapids Campus 401 W. Fulton St.
- July 7: Patrick Macoska, Michigan
- July 14: Marcel Siebers, the Netherlands
- July 21: David Maker, Connecticut
- July 28: Julianne Vanden Wyngaard
Free parking available in the Watson Lot, south of Fulton Street behind Secchia Hall. Call the GVSU Music Department at (616) 331-3484 for more information.
