Carillons at The University of Michigan

Carillons at The University of Michigan 113 Bells. 2 Towers. For the campus. For the city. For ALL. The University of Michigan has been a leading center of carillon and campanological studies since 1936.

The carillons are played every weekday while classes are in session and for special events. What is a carillon? A carillon is a musical instrument comprised of at least 23 bronze bells, arranged in chromatic sequence, so tuned as to produce concordant harmony when many bells are sounded together. It is played from a keyboard that allows expression through variation of touch. The keys are struck wi

th the half-closed hand, and larger bells are connected to foot pedals. The U-M campus is home to 2 carillons:
Burton Memorial Tower was built in 1936 to the designs of Albert Kahn. Crowning the building is the Charles Baird Carillon, built in 1936 by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, England. With 53 bells, the largest of which weighs over 12 tons, it is the third heaviest carillon in the world. The 10th floor, where the carillon resides, is open Monday-Friday from 12-12:45pm while classes are in session. Concert admission is FREE. At the heart of North Campus is the Robert & Ann Lurie Tower. It was built in 1996 to the designs of Charles Moore. The carillon was cast and built by the Royal Eijsbouts Bell Foundry of Asten, the Netherlands. It contains 60 bells with the largest weighing 6 tons. The belfry is open Monday-Friday from 1:30-2pm while classes are in session. U-M students from any major may apply to study the carillon as an elective (smtd.umich.edu/lessons), for a master's degree, or as part of the DMA in Sacred Music. The Carillon program is a division of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Department of Organ. For more information on Department-wide events, please visit the Organ Department page: www.facebook.com/umichorgandepartment

The clapper replacement project is still ongoing. We'll post an update here when we're able to resume our noontime conce...
09/03/2026

The clapper replacement project is still ongoing. We'll post an update here when we're able to resume our noontime concerts. Thank you for your patience!

Inspired by the music you heard during our summer series? Write new music for carillon! The Guild of Carillonneurs in No...
08/17/2026

Inspired by the music you heard during our summer series? Write new music for carillon!

The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) invites composers to enter the GCNA Franco Carillon Composition Contest. Each entrant may submit one anonymized score written for solo 4-octave carillon or for smaller-compass carillon (see contest rules for range information). The work cannot have been previously performed, published, or received another prize.

Winners receive:
- 1st prize: US$2,000, world premiere at the 2027 GCNA Congress, promotion and publication
- 2nd prize: US$1,000, world premiere at the 2027 GCNA Congress, promotion and publication
- Performance award: US$150, world premiere at the 2027 GCNA Congress, promotion and optional publication

Submission deadline: Nov. 1, 2026

For more information: [email protected] or https://gcna.org/music/contests/composition/

Congratulations to Zhenqi Wang on passing the The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America's Associate Carillonneur Exam!...
07/17/2026

Congratulations to Zhenqi Wang on passing the The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America's Associate Carillonneur Exam! 🎉🎶🔔

ZHENQI WANG (she/her) graduated from the University of Michigan in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Music. She began studying the carillon in 2025 under Dr. Tiffany Ng and Dr. HyoJin Jenna Moon after being captivated by the instrument’s unique sound during a campus performance. In her first semester of study, she served as the student carillonist for the University of Michigan opera production of Benjamin Britten’s "The Turn of the Screw." She especially enjoys performing Chinese folk songs adapted for the carillon and exploring the ways music can bridge cultures and traditions. In addition to the carillon, Zhenqi has studied piano since childhood and sang soprano with the University of Michigan Arts Chorale. After graduation, she will move to the Bay Area to begin her career as a software engineer.

07/10/2026

MM carillon student Adam Lenhart performs the Centralia Carillon's 4th of July recital (music in clip: Florence Price's "Adoration," arranged by Tiffany Ng) 🇺🇸

We begin our summer carillon concert series on July 13 at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Tower on North Campus, continuing th...
06/17/2026

We begin our summer carillon concert series on July 13 at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Tower on North Campus, continuing through August 3. Concerts take place on Mondays at 7 p.m. and are open to the public, free, and family friendly.

On July 13, U-M SMTD alumnus Dr. Jeremy Chesman returns to perform at his alma mater, where he earned his master's degree in carillon. Ellen Dickinson's July 20 program "Joys of Summer" features music about colors in nature, rejuvenation, and summer nights. On July 27, Smithsonian astronomer Dr. Margaret Pan performs a virtuosic program. To close, U-M students will perform a joint concert on August 3.

All carillon concerts are outdoors, rain or shine, and staff are available to direct attendees to accessible facilities.

Stay tuned for more details on our performers and their recitals!

Congratulations to Meghan Wysocki on her graduation and attainment this past year of Associate Carillonneur status in Th...
05/05/2026

Congratulations to Meghan Wysocki on her graduation and attainment this past year of Associate Carillonneur status in The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America! 🎓🔔〽️

Meghan Wysocki recently graduated with degrees in Medical Anthropology and Music, studying carillon under Dr. Tiffany Ng and Carson Landry and organ under Dr. Caroline Robinson. Meghan enjoyed four years in the Carillon Guild at the University of Michigan, including two as president. She serves on the editorial board of the national carillon journal and works for the University's arts prescription program. Outside of her work, you can find Meghan reading, cooking, and listening to live music.

Congratulations Joe Antrim on earning a second degree at U-M and passing the Associate Carillonneur Exam of The Guild of...
04/29/2026

Congratulations Joe Antrim on earning a second degree at U-M and passing the Associate Carillonneur Exam of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America!

Joe Antrim is a graduating Masters student in Biomedical Engineering and a previous Minor in Music. He has studied carillon under Professor Tiffany Ng for over two years, and originally found his passion for learning and performing the carillon during his undergraduate years at the University of Michigan, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biomedical Science. Outside of the classroom, Joe is also a pianist, vocal musician, and avid downhill ski racer, but finds himself gravitating most often to the heights of Ann Arbor’s Burton Memorial and Lurie towers. After graduating in Spring 2026, Joe will move to Boston to work in the research and development of large molecule biopharmaceuticals, and he hopes to continue his carillon fervor in new towers in New England.

Congratulations to graduating student Sarah Penrose, who recently earned the Associate Carillonneur designation from The...
04/28/2026

Congratulations to graduating student Sarah Penrose, who recently earned the Associate Carillonneur designation from The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America!

Sarah Penrose recently graduated from the University of Michigan School of Information with a Master of Science degree, focusing on User Experience Research and Design. She has studied the carillon since September 2023, first with Carson Landry and then with Dr. Tiffany Ng. However, her interest in the carillon began in September 2022, when she served as a student researcher alongside Dr. Ng on the “A Century of Women and the Carillon” archival and outreach project. Her work involved conducting archival research on underrepresented women in carillon history, updating the www.CarillonWomen.org site with a multimedia timeline of women who were the first in their areas to break glass ceilings, and leveraging community outreach to spread awareness of over 100 years of women's contributions to the carillon field. While studying the carillon, she performed various works by women composers, including Gladys Watkins and Jean Miller, to uphold her dedication to the centennial. She was also an active member of the Carillon Guild at the University of Michigan for two years. This May, Sarah is moving to Knoxville, Tennessee to serve as the Web Designer for the University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering.

Address

881 N University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI
48104

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 12:45pm
1:30pm - 2pm
Tuesday 12pm - 12:45pm
1:30pm - 2pm
Wednesday 12pm - 12:45pm
1:30pm - 2pm
Thursday 12pm - 12:45pm
1:30pm - 2pm
Friday 12pm - 12:45pm
1:30pm - 2pm

Telephone

+17347644414

Website

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