Carillonneurs from across North America are heading to Lawrence, and numerous concerts are scheduled throughout the second week of June. There will also be Sunday concerts throughout the summer.
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America is hosting its 82nd annual congress at the University of Kansas. This will be the third time, as KU also hosted the congress in 1956 and 1997.
Numerous musicians will play the bells of the carillon at the top of the Campanile on KU’s campus as recitals are scheduled Tuesday evening through Saturday morning, June 10 through 14.
“A carillon is a concert instrument made of bronze bells that are played from a keyboard. The keyboard and bells are typically situated high up in bell towers, their sound soaring over the surrounding area,” according to a news release from KU. “A carillon has at least 23 bells of different sizes that are tuned chromatically,” but the carillon in the Campanile has 53, according to the release.
Depending on conditions, the bells can be heard a mile or more away from the campanile. But community members are invited to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs to listen to the free concerts up close.
“The sound of the carillon is best at least 200 feet from the tower,” according to carillon concert event pages.
“We’re thrilled to welcome carillonists from around the world to KU as we kick off the 75th anniversary of the Campanile,” Elizabeth Berghout, associate professor of church and organ music, said in KU’s release. “It’s a real honor to host some of the finest performers in the field, who will fill our campus with music from the bells that have meant so much to this community for generation.”
Here’s the tentative schedule for the congress and the recitals that are part of it, via the GCNA website:
2025-GCNA-scheduleLearn more on the GCNA’s website, gcna.org/2025-Congress.
There are also weekly concerts scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. each Sunday from June 1 through July 27, all of which are free to attend and open to everyone. Concerts will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
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