Holiday Circlefest 2015 a Great Success!

 

 

Almost seven gallons of hot spiced tea and twenty dozen cookies disappeared as hundreds of visitors to University Circle Inc.’s annual Holiday CircleFest met FMC volunteers at a tent near the Covenant shuttle stop to become Tower Tourists.

 

We expanded from three to four CircleFest Tower Tours this year, but still far exceeded comfortable numbers for the last tour of the day—last year’s 3 p.m. tour group was about 30 persons, so this year’s big crowd was 3-4 times what we could have predicted. Our sincere apologies to anyone who gave up on that climb to the carillon. We will find a way to offer one or two additional tours next year and limit the size to maximize enjoyment for all.

 

Thanks to all who gave us their e-mail addresses to enter a drawing for one of three personalized Tower Tours. Congratulations to the three winners drawn by University Circle Carillonneur George Leggiero.

When the bells toll: McGaffin Carillon rings over University Circle

Article by Aquene Kimmel in the Observer, the student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University.   9 October 2015

 

                Aquene Kimmel - Observer

                Aquene Kimmel - Observer

Underneath 47 massive bells, weighing more than 15,000 pounds in total, George Leggiero is right at home.

Inside the Church of the Covenant, Leggiero began the trek up a tightly wound spiral staircase, the same trek he has been making for the past 42 years since he was a student at Case Western Reserve University.

Atop the stairs, about 80 feet above the bustling Euclid Avenue, an instrument sits on a raised platform. It looks something like a hollow piano with two rows of wooden handles instead of white and black keys. Two rows of foot pedals protrude from its base. Wires stretch up from the back of the instrument and disappear, through the ceiling, to the bells above......read more

Montessori High School at University Circle Visits the Tower

Nearly twenty French students from the Montessori High School at University Circle brought their lunches over from Magnolia Dr. to the Lunchtime Carillon Concert on Friday, Sept. 25. They all climbed the tower to the clavier level to see the instrument prior to the concert, some staying to enjoy the view and the breeze from the 80-some-foot-high balcony while listening to the music. Afterward, University Circle Carillonneur George Leggiero taught them about carillons in France and French Canada. Many thanks to Montessori's French and physical education teacher, Nancy Smekal, for arranging this special educational event (with a little cardio as well!).

 

Visit the McGaffin Tower

Visitors Climb The McGaffin Tower

Visitors Climb The McGaffin Tower

 

 

On Sunday mornings, following morning worship (about 11:00), The McGaffin Tower will be open to visitors while the carillonneur is playing. There will be a 20-30 minute concert of music during the reception time on the lawn. Climb the tower and see how the bells are played. The carillon tower entrance is on the upper floor across from the Herrick Room.

Visits to the tower at other times can be arranged. Contact the carillonneur george.leggiero@gmail.com