FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 30, 2023
Contact: Carlo van Ulft
Phone: 217-414-1914
THE 61ST INTERNATIONAL CARILLON FESTIVAL FEATURING TWELVE CONCERTS OVER FOUR DAYS THURSDAY, JUNE 1ST – SUNDAY, JUNE 4TH
[Springfield, IL] – The 61st Annual International Carillon Festival will take place starting this Thursday, June 1st at 6:00 pm through Sunday, June 4th at historic Washington Park here in Springfield. This year’s Festival features concerts over four days with performers from around the world, the United States, and another year with local talent providing welcoming music!
Take in performances by local artists. Including; Springfield Municipal Band, Springfield Saxophone Quartet, and the Trinity Wind Ensemble.
NEW THIS YEAR, there will be pre concert events provided by the Rees Carillon Society and the Carillon Belles which include;
• FREE ice cream and bundtini’s from Hy-Vee, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and ABC NewsChannel 20/Fox Illinois.
• Yard games, kids crafts, and scavenger hunts
• Concessions by It’s All Good Food Truck
• Watercolor paint night of the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon led by Dr. Amy High
• Mini-photo sessions by Sarah Renae Photography
Don’t forget our legendary Fireworks display on Friday, June 2nd at Dusk with musical accompaniment from Carlo van Ulft.
For more information about the preshow events and a PDF of the Festival program with a full line-up and bios of our guest carillonists, please visit: carillon-rees.org.
The Festival is presented by the Springfield Park District – with additional financial and volunteer support from the Rees Carillon Society, the Carillon Belles, and the Washington Park Botanical Garden. The Carillon Festival features the world’s leading Carillonists and is considered among the most important Carillon event of its kind. Concerts are free-of-charge and take place rain or shine. Individuals and families are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. There will be viewing screens scattered throughout the park to observe the performers.
Enjoy the beauty of Washington Park and the adjacent Botanical Garden with the unique accompaniment of Carillon music!
The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon is the gift of Senator Thomas Rees, publisher of the
Illinois State Register from 1881 until his death in 1933.
The 67 cast-bronze bells range in weight from 22 pounds to 71/2 tons. The Carillon was cast by
the 300-year-old bell foundry of Petit & Fritsen, Ltd., in Aarle-Rixtel, The Netherlands. All of the
bells are played manually from a keyboard located in the Carillonist’s cabin on level 8 of the 12-
story tower.
61st International Carillon Festival Schedule:
Thursday, June 1st
6:00pm The Springfield Municipal Band
6:30pm Carillon Concert by Carlo van Ulft, Illinois
7:20pm Carillon Concert by Dr. Linda Dzuris, Clemson University, South Carolina
Friday, June 2nd
6:00pm Springfield Saxes
6:30pm Carillon Concert by Marcel Siebers, The Netherlands
7:20pm Carillon Concert by Tim Sleep, Illinois
Saturday, June 3rd
6:00pm Illinois Youth Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet
6:30pm Carillon Concert by Dr. Linda Dzuris, Clemson University, South Carolina
7:20pm Carillon Concert by Alex Johnson, Illinois
Sunday, June 4th
6:00pm The Trinity Wind Ensemble
6:30pm Carillon Concert by Marcel Siebers, The Netherlands
7:20pm Carillon Concert by Carlo van Ulft, Illinois
###
For more information on this topic or any other Park District news related item, please visit our
website at www.springfieldparks.org