Aaron Schaffer, Photo Editor
A children’s concert, held on Saturday, April 20, was the first in a series that will take place over the course of the year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Hopeman Carillon in Rush Rhees Library. The carillon, which was installed in December 1973, is one of four working carillons in the state of New York and among the oldest.
Even though the exact anniversary date is still eight months away, members of the Rochester Carillon Society decided that concerts held throughout the year will honor the occasion.
“Rather than waiting to have our 40th anniversary, we’re going to do it over the summer,” carillonneur Doris Aman said. “Whenever we have some special pieces, we’ll just announce that we’re doing another 40th anniversary concert.”
Aman is employed by the Music Department to guide student carillonneurs and the Rochester Carillon Society.
According to Aman, the summer concerts are partly a matter of practicality; to preserve the carillon, it is not played when the temperature falls below 32 degrees.
Early this spring, student carillonneurs happened to be learning pieces that would suit a young audience like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and Muppet tunes. This prompted the planning of a children’s concert.
Freshman Gabby Pulsinelli spearheaded the concert.
Another student carillonneur, freshman Sarah Lamade, suggested they ask if a group of children who are tutored by UR students at Carlson Library on Saturdays would be interested in attending.
The concert was also announced to the Rochester community.
In addition to four families from the Rochester community, the Carlson chidren were able to watch the concert via Skype. The carillonneurs set up an iPad in the tower so that the children could see them playing the carillon.
Afterwards, the carillonneurs went and took questions from the kids.
“We wanted to do something for kids,” Pulsinelli said. “We thought it would be a good idea for a younger audience to hear what this is.”
Remus is a member of the class of 2016.
