DATE: April 14, 2008

CONTACT: Linda Dzuris, (864) 656-6366
ldruriz@clemson.edu

WRITER: Glenn Hare, (864) 656-1478
ghare@clemson.edu

Concert, fireworks to mark 20th anniversary of Clemson carillon

CLEMSON — Since its dedication in 1987, the Clemson University Memorial Carillon has announced the beginning of each academic year, celebrated football victories, entertained the campus with concerts and marked the passing of students, administrators and faculty. 

To mark the 20th anniversary of Clemson’s grandest and largest musical instrument — at 100,000 pounds — there will be a concert and fireworks beginning at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, May 4. The free concert will feature guest artist Carlo J. van Ulft, a distinguished carillonneur who has performed throughout the United States and Europe.

“Carlo is a wonderful musician, composer and arranger. He is recognized as one of America’s prominent carillon players,” said Linda Dzuris, the Clemson carillonneur.

Van Ulft will play carillon arrangements of works by Mozart, Strauss, Bizet, Rossini, Beethoven and others. The concert will be followed by fireworks. 

The French-made bells of the Clemson Memorial Carillon can be heard up to a quarter mile away, but the best listening areas are the Military Heritage Plaza, Bowman Field and the Carillon Garden adjacent to Tillman Hall. Concert-goers can bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. 

“The university has the distinction of having one of the few carillons in the country on its campus. With slightly more than 200 instruments in the United States, Clemson is fortunate to have such a majestic instrument for the entire community to enjoy,” Dzuris said.

Carlo J. van Ulft is the director and carillonist of the Centralia Carillon in Centralia, Ill., an appointmen he’s held since 1997. A native of the Netherlands, he holds the European equivalent of master's degrees in organ, carillon and pop music.

Before accepting the position in Illinois, van Ulft was carillonist in four cities in the Netherlands, an organist at St. Martinus Church in Venlo and a faculty member of the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium.

As a guest performer he has played at all the major carillon festivals and carillon summer series around the world. Van Ulft serves on the board of directors of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and is the 1993 recipient of University of California at Berkeley Medal of Honor for “Distinguished Service to the Carillon.”

History of the Clemson Carillon

The dedication of the Clemson University Memorial Carillon on October 1987 completed a two-year fundraising and building process that was spearheaded by Rembert Horton (Class of 1930) and family. In 1985, the Hortons supported the founding and installation of six bronze bells known as the Clemson University Victory Peal. The motorized bells were heard signaling the start of each academic year and after each home football victory. 

Soon after the bells’ installation, the Class of 1943 embraced the vision of a grand instrument located in the heart of Clemson University. Members of that class purchased the largest bell (4,386 pounds) and named it “Big C.” Other donations supported the acquisition of 39 additional bells to form the carillon.

The bells were cast by the Paccard Fonderie de Cloches in Annecy-le-Vieux, France. Van Bergen Bellfoundries Inc. in Charleston coordinated the carillon’s design and casting.

Clemson University is the only university or college in South Carolina where students can learn to play the carillon. The performing arts department provides group and private lessons. Since 1999, more than 100 Clemson students from more than 40 different majors have taken carillon lessons and classes. 

Carillonneurs play the instrument by striking a keyboard of two-foot wood batons with closed fists.

Get more information about the 20th anniversary concert at www.clemson.edu/Brooks.

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