The Middlebury College
Summer Carillon Series

The Carillon Series treats audiences to free performances on Friday evenings at 5:00 P.M. from early July through mid-August, in and around Mead Memorial Chapel. Each year, musicians from around the world come to Middlebury to perform in the Chapel’s bell tower high above the College campus. All of the concerts are free and open to the public, and can be enjoyed inside Mead Chapel or on the surrounding lawns.

Middlebury College Carillon

29th Annual Summer Carillon Series 

The 2014 Summer Carillon Concert season features a fine group of musicians, performing from the soaring tower of Mead Chapel. The melodic sounds of the carillon bells are a staple of summer life on the Middlebury campus. Free

July 4, Friday

George Matthew Jr., carillon

5:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

Mr. Matthew is Carillonneur at Middlebury College and Norwich University.  Free

July 11, Friday

Amy Heebner '93, carillon

5:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

Ms. Heebner is City Carillonneur, Albany, New York. Free 

July 18, Friday

Elena Sadina, carillon

5:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

Ms. Sadina is an instructor at the Middlebury College Language Schools and the Royal Carillon School, Mechelen, Belgium. Free

July 25, Friday

Sergei Gratchev, carillon

5:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

Mr. Gratchev is Instructor and Carillonneur in Hulst, Netherlands, and at the Middlebury Summer Russian School. Free 

August 1, Friday

Tatiana Lukyanova, carillon

5:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

Ms. Lukyanova, a former Instructor at the Royal Belgian Carillon School and St. Petersburg Conservatory, is now carilloneur at the First Church of Christ Congregational in New Britain, CT. Free 

August 8, Friday

Charles Semowich, carillon

5:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

Mr. Semowich is City Carillonneur, Albany, New York. Free

August 15, Friday

Commencement Prelude

7:00 PM, Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns

The bells of Mead Chapel's Carillon will announce the start of Middlebury's 100th Language School commencement procession. Free

About Middlebury's Carillon

• A carillon is set up like a keyboard, with black and white keys and foot pedals that can help produce different kinds of sound. Each key is connected by wire to a bell clapper so different bells are rung depending on which key is struck.
• It is a 75-step climb up to Middlebury's bell tower, atop Mead Memorial Chapel. The Middlebury Carillon is considered a traditional carillon of 48 bells.
• The pitch of Middlebury's heaviest bell is E in the middle octave. It is a 2,300-pound bell; roughly the same weight as the Liberty Bell.
• In 1915, the instrument was begun with eleven bells by the Meneely bellfoundry in Watervliet, NY. Nine bells remain from that work.
• In 1986, the instrument was enlarged to its present size with bells made by Paccard-Fonderie des Cloches in Annecy, France. The enhanced carillon was presented as a gift from then Chairman of the Board of Trustees Allen Dragone '50 (and his wife Jane) in 1986. 27 bells remain from that work.
• In 2001, 12 bells were recast or replaced in 2001 by Meeks & Watson of Georgetown, OH.
• The bell on the left of this picture of Middlebury's carillon is inscribed with the following quote by Lord Alfred Tennyson: “Ring in the valiant man and free the larger heart, the kindlier hand! Ring out the darkness of the land, ring in the Christ that is to be!”
• Learn more about our college carilloneur, George Matthew Jr.