THE 2009 SUMMER CONCERTS -- FEATURING OUR MAGNIFICENT CARILLON!

“The Concerts Under the Stars”

Now in our 35rd year, we are very fortunate to attract world class carillonneurs, local musicians and choral groups. Bring your picnic dinner, blanket or chair and enjoy an evening of music under the stars. Subject to change. Concerts held rain or shine.

Suggested donation $5.00 p.p.

~ JUNE 28 (Sun) ~
7:00pm:  Cast in Bronze
Largest traveling carillon in North America

~ JUNE 30 (Tue) ~
7:00pm:  Amy Johansen, carillon
Sydney, Australia

8:00pm:  Tower Tours

~ JULY 7 (Tue) ~
Garden Grooves
7:00pm:  Groningen Carillon Duo,
The Netherlands

 8:00pm:  Father John D`Amico Jazz Trio

~ JULY 14 (Tue) ~
7:00pm:  Celtic Colours on the Green
Janet & Dwight Dundore Memorial Concert
Lisa Lonie, carillon
Whitemarsh

8:00pm:  Irish Thunder Pipe Band

~ JULY 21 (Tue) ~
7:00pm:  Janno den Engelsman, carillon
The Netherlands

8:00pm:   Sounds of Liberty Barbershop Choral

~ JULY 28 (Tue) ~
7:00pm:  Carol Anne Taylor, carillon
Texas

8:00pm:   Tower Tours

For more information, please call our carillonneur, Lisa Lonie, at 215-283-3223 or stop by the bell tower. 

PRESS RELEASE:  March 9, 2009:

Lisa Lonie, St. Thomas' Carillonneur, was interviewed on WRTI Radio

The CARILLON is a musical instrument of 23 or more bells that when sounded produce music.  Carillon bells are hung stationary with only the clapper moving against the lip of the bell.  It is manually played from a console with both fists and feet activating batons and pedals attached to the clappers through mechanical linkage.  There is no electronic assistance to ring the bells. 

Remarkable variations in expression are possible and controlled entirely by the carillonneur.  Typical music performed can range from the classics to jazz and blues, from Sousa to Andrew Lloyd Webber.  With a live television feed between the St. Thomas' Church tower and the ground, listeners can view the carillonneur during the performance. 

The largest bell of the St. Thomas' carillon weighs 3,300 pounds; the smallest only 24 pounds.  Dedicated in 1974, the carillon of St. Thomas' Church is memorialized to Catherine Colt Dickey.  The 48 bronze bells were cast in The Netherlands. 

Back to music at St. Thomas' Church.