News from The McGaffin Carillon in University Circle.
Carillonneur, George Leggiero, highlighted by The Case Alumni Association
George Leggiero’s 50th anniversary in the McGaffin Tower was highlighted in an article by the Case Alumni Association. George is a 1972 graduate of the Case Engineering School. As an undergraduate he lived in Mather House next door to The Church of the Covenant and the McGaffin Carillon. In 1973 he was hired as the McGaffin Carillonneur and has climbed the tower and rung the 15,000 pound, 47 bell instrument since then. Read the article by Hannah Jackson, class of 2024. For Whom the Bells Toll?
University of Michigan Students Visit The McGaffin Tower
Carson Landry, our guest carillonst from earlier in the month, returned to the tower this past weekend and brought the University of Michigan Carillon Guild for a visit. These students were able to spend time trying out the McGaffin Carillon and comparing the instrument to the large instrument at University of Michigan. University Circle was serenaded Sunday evening by their music. Thank you! We hope one day to have our own student carillon guild.
University of Michigan Carillon Guild Students with Carson Landry
The Students got to try the McGaffin bells and serenade University Circle.
McGaffin Carillon and Recent Cleveland Magazine Articles
The July issue of Cleveland Magazine featured a wonderful article "Bells of Beauty" about The McGaffin Carillon by Anthony Elder with photos by Annie Nickoloff. It's a great article about the McGaffin Tower and Carillon as a community music venue in University Circle. Link to Article
A second article was published online about the Friends of the McGaffin Carillon's fundraising for a complete restoration and renovation of the instrument."McGaffin Carillon in University Circle Fights for Revitalization" Link to Article
We are close to completing our fundraising. Please be in touch if you would like to be part of this exciting project. Contact George Leggiero, gleggiero@ucbells.org or the FMC office at (216)535-4411.
Two New Bells Cast for the McGaffin Carillon
Royal Eijsbouts staff pour molten bronze into the bell mold.
Two new bells were cast for The McGaffin Carillon on 12 September by Royal Eijsbouts in Asten, The Netherlands, the firm who cast the 47 current bells in 1968. These gifts to future generations of University Circle visitors will join the carillon during the eventual restoration and renovation of the instrument
The largest of the two bells will add a low Bb to the carillon, will be 58.3 inches in diameter, and weigh 4,290 pounds. It is a gift of Alexander McGaffin’s grandchildren in memory of their mother, Dr. McGaffin’s daughter. The second bell is a gift from Denise Horstman, founding president of The Friends of the McGaffin Carillon, and her husband, Rod Keen in memory of their parents. It will be 43.5 inches in diameter and weigh 1,672 pounds. It adds a low Eb to the carillon. The two bells will increase the weight of the carillon by 40%. Our carillonneurs are excited to eventually have these notes added to the instrument where it will expand the repertoire we can play.
Read our Annual Report Celebrating our Fifth Year
The past five years have been quite busy for the Friends of the McGaffin Carillon in University Circle. We thank our many donors and supporters. The McGaffin Carillon, Cleveland’s Singing Tower, is the busiest in the state of Ohio. Even during this year’s pandemic challenges our carillonneurs have brought live music to University Circle and helped lighten the mood. This is only possible through the generosity of our many donors who continue to support our activities.
Our ultimate goal is a student guild that will play the carillon on a daily basis. We need a full restoration and renovation of the instrument to make that happen. Our restoration fund is well on the way and we welcome your help.
Friends of the McGaffin Carillon most recent annual report
If you haven’t kept up, here are previous reports
Friends of the McGaffin Carillon 2017-18 report