WHERE:
Beaumont Tower
WHEN:
July 22, 2026
WHAT:
Performing Arts
ABOUT
Concert time: 6:00pm
Now in its 29th season, the Muelder Summer Carillon Concert Series brings the distinctive sound of Beaumont Tower’s bells to life from the heart of MSU’s beautiful campus. Curated by Jon Lehrer, University Carillonist of MSU, the series invites listeners to gather on the surrounding grounds for a summer evening of music. Concerts take place Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in July and the first week of August and are free and open to the public. Bring a chair or blanket, pack a picnic, and come enjoy this treasured summer tradition at MSU.
Guest Carillonist: Ellen Dickinson
Ellen Dickinson is University Carillonneur at Yale University and College Carillonist at Trinity College. A leading figure in the carillon community, she has played a central role in expanding the instrument’s repertoire through major commissioning initiatives, including 50 for the 50th, a landmark project celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Yale Memorial Carillon. In recognition of her distinguished service to the carillon art worldwide, she received the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America’s Certificate of Extraordinary Service in 2017. An active performer and composer, Dickinson also serves as Artistic Director of Music on the Hill and is a dedicated educator within the carillon community.
Program
Dickinson’s program, Joys of Summer, offers an inviting exploration of music inspired by the natural world and seasonal reflection. Organized around themes such as sound, growth, color, and renewal, the program brings together original works and unique arrangements that reflect both nature’s rhythms and the moods and moments of calm and beauty they inspire. Spanning classical, contemporary, jazz, and popular tunes, the concert highlights the carillon’s expressive range, blending moments of serenity, playfulness, and gentle energy.
