Performers from The Netherlands, Colorado, New York and Kentucky will be featured in the 2007 Summer Carillon Concert Series at Berea College.  The Music Department will present a series of concerts on Draper Tower’s 56-bell carillon, the largest in the state of Kentucky.  Concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, and will last for one hour.  Seating in the College Quadrangle in will be provided, and a video monitor will allow persons at ground level to view the player in action. Admission is free for all events.

June 4:  Roel Smit, carillonneur of Deventer and Doetinchem, The Netherlands

July 2:  Justin Ryan, former Fulbright Scholar and Master's Candidate at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver

August 6:  John Courter, carillonneur of Berea College, Kentucky.

Sept. 3 (Labor Day): Tiffany Ng, 2006 Graduate of the Royal Carillon School (Belgium) and Master's Candidate at Eastman School of Music; University Carillonist

The first concert, on June 4, will feature Roel Smit, City Carillonneur at five cities in the eastern part of The Netherlands.  Since 1972, he has played the historic Hemony carillon dating from 1647 in St. Lebuinus Tower in Deventer.  He later was appointed carillonneur at Doetinchem, Hengelo, Doesburg and Dinxperlo.

A native of Utrecht in central Netherlands, he was educated as an organist and church musician. His carillon studies were with Leen 't Hart, founder of the Netherlands Carillon School, and later with Peter Bakker.  Smit received the Prix d'Excellence for his carillon playing. 

His program at Berea will include Six Renaissance Dances by Tylman Susato, three sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, whose 250th anniversary is celebrated this year, Mozart's Piano Sonata in C Major,  KV.330, and Six Rhythmic Studies by Wim Franken, a Dutch composer whose 85th birthday is celebrated this year. 

All are invited to attend this festive Summer Carillon Concert Series, held on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.