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 Want to know about the Wellesley College Guild of Carillonneurs? 
Read on to learn about the structure of our organization and for fun facts about the Wellesley carillon!
Carillon Training and Levels of the Guild of Carillonneurs
Apprentice (entry level):

Apprentices are given weekly lessons to learn the basic manual, pedal and musical  skills required to pass their first recital. Lessons are taught by either Junior  Members or by the advisor. Students at this level are only permitted to play the  practice carillon.

Junior Membership Recital Requirements:
"America the Beautiful"
"The Wellesley College Alma Mater"
"Queen's Change" by memory
Proper spelling of the word carillonneur
1 manual piece
1 manual and pedal piece

Junior Member:

Once an apprentice has passed her first recital, she is granted a junior membership to the Guild of Carillonneurs. This allows her to perform at least weekly concerts on the carillon as well as continue lessons with the advisor bi-weekly. Lessons    continue to enhance musical and technical abilities and prepare the junior member for a Senior recital.

Senior Membership Recital Requirements:
2 pieces that must use pedals and manuals
1 piece that is an improvisation of the performer's arrangement that uses manuals and pedals

Senior Members:

Members of the Guild of Carillonneurs at this level should show proficiency with the instrument and have an in-depth knowledge of the music and the instrument.


Associate Member:

Associate members are individuals who support the Guild but do not play the carillon.

Fun Facts about the Wellesley Carillon:
  • The Wellesley carillon has 32 bells which have a range of C-D-E and then which is chromatic to A. This amounts to almost three octaves.
  • The carillon was installed in 1931.
  • The bells are made of solid bronze and are controlled by a series of levers that control the clapper inside of the bell.
  • The largest bell is 4-5 feet tall, about 3 feet in diameter and 1600 pounds.
  • Our smallest bell is 80 pounds.
  • Each clapper is about 1/10 of the weight of the bell.
  • The carillon was donated by a student, Charlotte Nichols Greene in honor of her parents, Charlotte Peabody Nichols and John Howard Nichols, in June 1931. 
  • Jef Denyn of the Netherlands was the first to play it at the Commencement of the Class of 1931.
  • The carillon is a transposing instrument - when a C is struck on the manuals a concert G is heard.
  • The Guild of Carillonneurs is currently sponsored by the Wellesley Class of 1951.
Interested in becoming a member of the Guild?
We accept applications for membership each semester.  Applications are available on FirstClass by accessing the Guild of Carillonneurs conference.  Fall semester applications are due early in October.  Applications to begin lessons during Wintersession or Spring semester are due at the beginning of December. 

Date Created: December 24, 2003
Date Modified: December 24, 2003
Created by: Seeyuen Lee
slee@wellesley.edu