Carillon Concert Series

The Carillon Concert Series features beautiful concerts from Middlebury Chapel’s bell tower. The melodic sounds of the carillon bells will ring out across the campus. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket! Free. For more information on the carillon, click here.

Charles Semowich was a BA from the University at Binghamton, a MFA from Catholic University of America and a PhD from International College. He studied organ privately and at the University at Binghamton, He studied carillon at the University of Michigan and privately with George Matthew, Jr., Carlo Van Ulft and Ellen Dickinson. He performs at the carillon at Albany City Hall, which included performances for three governor’s inaugurations and other special events.He has performed concerts in New England, Pennsylvania and Virginia. He has composed many pieces for carillon,some of which have been published by Fenwick Parva Press, Friends of the Albany City Carillon, SheetMusicPlus and DeLaetsburg Press.In 2019, he was appointed the fifth carillonneur at Riverside Church (NYC) which had been considered to be the largest carillon in the world; he retired from that position in 2024. In 2022, he wasappointed Grand Organist for the Grand Lodge of Masons in the State of New York. He is an active visual artist and has exhibited widely. He is the author of 7 books and many articles. He is included in Whos Who in America.

Carillon Concert

Middlebury College
Charles Semowich,carillonneur
August 21, 2026, 6PM

Program

1. Fanfare for Middlebury College, Dedicated to George Matthew, Jr.Charles Semowich

2. “Prelude” from the Prelude, Fugue and VariationsCesar Franck (1822-1890)
arr. Wim Franken

3. Eighteen Variations on “Chop Sticks”
Albert Gerken (b. 1938)

4. Variations on “Walls of Ivy” (CWM RHONDDA)Charles Semowich

5. Moonlight in VermontKarl Suessdorf (1911-1982)
John Blackburn (1913-2006)
arr. Charles Semowich

6. ToccataLeon Boellmann (1862-1897)
arr. Emilien Allard

7. I Vow to Thee, My CountryGustav Holst (1874-1934)
arr. Luc Rombouts

A single bell will announce the number of the selection