When the sun goes down, the music turns up at St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh!

The 2006 Summer Concerts, featuring our magnificent carillon, continues!  Come out and join us on a Tuesday nights. Bring your picnic dinner, blanket or chair and enjoy an evening of music under the stars.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Summer Concerts, please call our carillonneur, Lisa Lonie, at 215-283-3223, or stop in the tower.

“The Concerts Under the Stars”

July 4

7:00 p.m. -- Lisa Lonie,  carillon, Ft. Washington, PA

8:00 p.m. -- Open Tower Tours

 Lisa Lonie has been our carillonneur for the past 7 years.  She began her carillon studies as a teenager at the Washington Memorial National Carillon in Valley Forge, PA. Lisa is a frequent recitalist throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe and has performed in internationally acclaimed carillon festivals. 

July 11

7:00 p.m. -- "Music and Mischief Family Concert Night", Janet Tebbel, carillon, Philadelphia, PA

8:00 p.m. -- Duet Pros Children’s Theater “Cinderella”

Carillonneur Janet Tebbel performs regularly on the carillons of First United Methodist Church of Germantown and at St. Vincent’s Seminary in Philadelphia.  She is also an organist, elementary school music instructor, and a Morris dancer.  She has performed extensively on North American and European carillons.

Two dynamic performers play all the characters in the charming and fun-filled presentations of Duet Productions.  Here's a delightful twist on the familiar tale. Of course there are Cinderella and Prince Charming, the glass slippers and the chiming clock. And then there’s Myles, The Town Crier, a jazzy trumpeter trying to make it big with the Palace Band. There’s fun for all in this timeless tale of magic, romance and the search for dependable household help.

July 18
 

7:00 p.m. -- "Red Hat Ladies Night! " Lara West, carillon, Lawrence, Kansas

8:00 p.m. -- Valley Forge Chorus of Sweet Adelines International

Lara Walter West has been playing the carillon for five years.  She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in church music (organ concentration) at the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence.  In addition, she serves as the music director for both Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lawrence, and the Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU.

The Valley Forge Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, is a group of energetic, dynamic women who love to sing and perform a variety of music, arranged in four-part a capella harmony. Members work hard to achieve excellence, but are able to have great fun in the process! The chorus is well known throughout the region for its high quality of musical and theatrical performance.

The Valley Forge Chorus has entertained audiences for over 35 years! Under the direction of Gene Bender, the chorus performs for corporate groups, in community events, and in chorus shows to promote the barbershop music tradition and to support community education seminars and benefit programs.

July 25

7:00 p.m. -- Marcel Siebers, carillon, Venlo, The Netherlands

8:00 p.m. -- Open Tower Tours

Marcel Siebers holds Master's Degree in piano from the Arnhem Conservatory as well as Practical Diploma and a Performing Artist Diploma from the Netherlands Carillon School in Amersfoort. He serves as a Municipal Carillonneur in Venlo, and in Cuijk. He also is the carillonneur of the Millennium Carillon of the Aldegundis Church in Emmerich (Germany). Mr. Siebers is an active composer, for carillon as well as for other musical media.

Aug 1 

Tuesday, August 1, beginning at 7:00p.m. we conclude Summer Concerts 2006 with a special performance by Jim Batt,  Rebecca Carr (soprano) and trumpeter Steve Heitzer.  Peter Langberg of Denmark will conclude the evening with a special twilight recital on the carillon, honoring the late Janet Dundore, carillonneur at St. Thomas for over 25 years.

7:00 p.m. -- James Batt & Friends, St. Thomas’ Church

8:00 p.m. -- "The Janet Dundore Memorial Concert"; Peter Langberg, carillon, Logumkloster, Denmark. 

James Batt is the Minister of Music at St. Thomas' and associate organist at Reform Congregation Beth Or of Spring House.  He has participated in world premieres of major choral/instrumental works and is recorded on Arkay Records.  He also accompanies Singing City Choir and other professional vocalists and instrumentalists throughout the Tri-State area.

Mr. Langberg is the carillonneur in Tonder, Denmark and Director of the Scandinavian Carillon School.  He is the recipient of the highest degree in organ from The Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen.  

Click here for a PDF of the 2006 Schedule

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.