Adrian Gebruers Honored
In the last few weeks of his papacy, His Holiness Pope John Paul II conferred on Adrian Patrick Gebruers the very special honor of Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, in recognition of outstanding service. The scroll was formally presented by Most Rev. Dr. John Magee, Bishop of Cloyne, at a ceremony in St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Ireland, on Sunday May 29, Feast of Corpus Christi. Gebruers’ association with church music began at the tender age of seven as a boy soprano in the Cathedral Choir. In 1970, he succeeded his late father Staf (himself the recipient of the Papal Cross of Honour “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”) as organist, choirmaster and carillonneur. In addition to being director of music at St. Colman’s, he is also lecturer in carillon studies at the music department of University College Cork.
In 1998, he was elected president of the World Carillon Federation and is also honorary president emeritus of the British Carillon Society and a founder Vice-President of Eurocarillon. He is a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America.
Nunc Dimittis: Janet Dundore
On Thursday, March 31, 2005, carillonneur Janet Dundore passed away at the age of 84. During her funeral service, Janet’s family spoke eloquently about her life, comparing it to the dynamics of a carillon bell, that once struck, the sound cannot be dampened. Janet’s association with the carillon—its music, programming, audience, organization—all reflected her unswerving, undampened desire to bring music to people’s lives.
Janet was internationally recognized as a proponent of carillon. She served as president of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America during some turbulent years. To encourage members to stop arguing, she handed out Tootsie Rolls to keep their jaws “occupied.” In recognition of her lifelong contributions to the art of the carillon, the GCNA presented her with Honorary Membership and the Certificate of Distinguished Service. In addition, The University of California, Berkeley, awarded her the Berkeley Medal, the university’s highest and most prestigious award, in recognition of her efforts which had “manifestly benefited the public well beyond the demands of tradition, rank, or direct service to the University.” St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh, bestowed the title of Carillonneur Emerita on Janet upon her retirement in 1999 following 26 years of service to the church.
Janet was the first carillonneur at St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania. Besides her position at St. Thomas’, Janet also served as carillonneur at Trinity United Church of Christ. When Trinity moved from North Philadelphia to its present location in Bucks County, she was adamant that the parish not leave their bells behind. To this day, the open tower, which showcases all 49 carillon bells of Trinity, is a Bucks County landmark and a testament to Janet’s vision that bells can be heard and seen.
For over 30 years Janet was carillonneur of the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Germantown, Philadelphia, one of the oldest carillons in the United States. For decades, Janet played Monday night novena services at the Shrine, bringing music not only to the faithful, but to an entire neighborhood.
Janet studied carillon with Frank Law of Valley Forge and Leen ’t Hart at the Dutch Carillon School in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. She performed carillon recitals throughout the Americas and Europe. Together with her husband, Dwight, Janet traveled the world in search of carillons and their players. She was a respected scholar, teacher, and authority on audience development. Her no-nonsense approach to programming still reverberates in our ears: “Always end a recital with something familiar so the audience knows when to clap!” She took great pride in the Tuesday evening audiences gathered in the grove at St. Thomas’ Church to listen to the carillon.
Perhaps Janet’s legacy with carillon bells can be summed up with a simple analogy: She pointed towards the sky and showed us how to fill it with music.
