Belles of the Bells Concert Sunday, Aug. 30

STORRS, CT. (Aug. 20, 2020) Storrs Congregational Church-UCC will hold its third and final outdoor carillon concert of the season at 5 p.m., Aug. 30, on the church lawn at the corner of Route 195 and North Eagleville Road. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert is part of the church’s “Belles of the Bells” series that features the artistry of talented female musicians from across New England playing the church’s historic Austin Cornelius Dunham Carillon.

“Our concerts provide a rare opportunity for people to hear the heavenly sounds of this storied instrument in a beautiful al fresco setting,” said Dr. Patricia Snyder, director of music ministry for Storrs Congregational-UCC. “You can listen to some wonderful music and get some fresh air, too--all while safely social distancing.”

The church’s carillon has been serenading the Storrs-Mansfield area since 1931. It has 36 bells, the largest of which, the Bourdon, weighs 2,800 pounds. The instrument is the only carillon east of the Connecticut River and one of the few carillons anywhere that are completely American made.

The featured carillonneur for this concert is Margaret Angelini, director of the Guild of Carillonneurs at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass. Angelini discovered the carillon on her second day as a Wellesley student several decades ago when she opened the window of her dorm room and fell in love with the sound of the bells. After studying the instrument for a short time, she became the leader of the student Guild of Carillonneurs at Wellesley. She is still the group’s official instructor, and she and her students have performed across the East Coast and in Canada.

Throughout the concert, social distancing will be required. Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs, picnic blankets and masks and to observe seating boundaries. Building access will be restricted to two at a time for restroom use. Masks will be required inside.

The concert will be held rain or shine. Parking is available on the street and in the church parking lot off North Eagleville Road.

Those who wish to do so may listen from their cars. Video and livestreaming feeds will be accessible online. Concert programs will be posted in advance on the church website (storrscongchurch.org) and also available at the concert.

Concert goers will have the opportunity to support the Windham No-Freeze Project (www.windhamnofreeze.com), which supplies safe, temporary seasonal shelter and full-year support services for hundreds of homeless individuals in the area. Peace-themed T-shirts will be available, with donations benefitting those experiencing homelessness.