The Millennium Carillon of Olympia, Washington
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Millennium Carillon Association

924 Capitol Way S
Olympia WA 98501

A statewide nonprofit organization
MCA © 2004

There is sweet music here that softer falls
Than petals from blown roses on the grass.

— Lord Alfred Tennyson

Bell Music to Ring in Heritage Park in July Concerts

The Millennium Carillon Association will present two carillon concerts in Olympia, Washington’s Capitol city.

Heritage Park Concert Schedule

  • Saturday, July 11 at 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 12 at 1:00 p.m.

The Chime Master-Eijsbouts Mobile Millennium Traveling Carillon

The Chime Master-Eijsbouts Mobile Millennium Traveling Carillon, formerly of Antwerp, Belgium, and now headquartered near Lancaster, Ohio, is the only four octave mobile carillon in the U.S. It has 48 bells, the largest weighing 2,000 pounds. The concerts will include classical and contemporary music as well as music specifically written for the carillon.

 

"Mystery" Carillonneur

A “mystery” Carillonneur will perform at Saturday’s concert as “The Spirit of the Bells.” Wylie Crawford, carillonneur for the University of Chicago, will perform at Sunday’s performance.

“These concerts will provide residents a first-hand opportunity to hear magnificent carillon music,” said Brian Coyne, president of the Millennium Carillon Association. “They’ll also be able to watch the carillonneur play a carillon,” Coyne said. “It’s a dynamic, engaging performance.”

The concerts will take place on the south shore of Capitol Lake below the Temple of Justice. Those attending the concerts are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs.

Wylie Crawford - Carillonneur

Wylie Crawford, Saturday’s artist, is the University Carillonneur at the University of Chicago, a position he has held since 1984. In addition, he is the Resident Carillonneur for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois (since 1986), and the Seminary Carillonneur for Seabury Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He was the first City Carillonneur for the Millennium Carillon in Naperville, Illinois.

With an undergraduate degree in Physics and a graduate degree in teaching from the University of Chicago, Mr. Crawford is pleased to have begun the first regular carillon instruction programs at four Chicago-area carillons.

Mr. Crawford fulfilled the requirements of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America to become a certified Carillonneur in 1977. He has given carillon recitals in Canada, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and the US. He recently appeared as “The Spirit of the Bells” at the Florida Renaissance Festival.

He is the President of the World Carillon Federation (www.carillon.org), a federation of international associations that organizes conferences in countries with a carillon culture. Previously, Mr. Crawford served as its Treasurer from 1990 until 2006.