June 18, 2025
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a relaxing evening listening to the sounds of the carillon’s 49 fully-chromatic bells when the Six Fridays at 6 Summer Carillon Concert Series returns to the Oakland University campus beginning on Friday, July 11.
“We are anticipating another stellar year of great carillon music,” said Dennis Curry, OU’s resident carillonneur.
The free concert series features six carillonneurs from around the world and will be held on six Fridays at 6 p.m. outside Oakland University’s Elliott Tower. The tower features a fully chromatic 49-bell carillon, which was the last carillon to have its bells and keyboard cast by the Petit and Fritsen Royal Bellfoundry in the Netherlands.
To be considered a “carillon,” the instrument must contain at least 23 cast bronze bells. Elliott Tower features a fully chromatic 49-bell carillon, each made of bronze and has the capability to play any musical compositions from arrangements of popular and classical music to original compositions created just for the carillon. The largest bell is a low C, weighing around 5,000 pounds and measuring 5 feet in diameter, while the smallest bell is a high C, weighing in at only 24 pounds. The total weight of all bells is more than 30,000 pounds — which totals over 15 tons.
“Listening to carillon music is a great way of enjoying a live outdoor performance while social distancing in a large, open area,” Curry said. “Come early to enjoy the fountains on a hot summer evening. Bring a picnic and friends!”
Guest performers are recognized international carillonneurs who will provide a wide variety of music. Performers include:
• July 11 – Joseph Min from New York, N.Y.
• July 18 – Trevor Workman from Bournville, England
• July 25 – Claire Janezic from Leuven, Belgium
• August 1 – John Gouwens from Culver, Ind.
• August 8 – Anne Lu from New York, N.Y.
• August 15 – Dennis Curry from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.
Recitals will be live-streamed on CCTV and Facebook.
For more information, visit https://www.oakland.edu/elliott-tower.
For more information about the Six Fridays at 6 Summer Carillon Concert Series, contact Dennis Curry at [email protected].