Carillon News: Carillon in Oklahoma City

Grace Jackson

Grace Jackson is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in sacred music at the University of Michigan, studying organ with Nicole Keller and carillon with Tiffany Ng. She holds a Master of Sacred Music degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University. She currently serves as the John Leigh Edwards Organ Scholar at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Detroit, Michigan, under the direction of Huw Lewis.

The carillon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Melissa Plamann, Wanda L. Bass Chair of Organ at Oklahoma City University and artist-in-residence at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, took a sabbatical in fall 2024 to develop her carillon skills. Plamann shares the motivation behind her decision to study the instrument: “About two years ago, I stepped outside between services to enjoy the carillon music, but the bells were silent. Our carillonneur was ill, and there was no one to play in her stead. I began to wonder how many other parishioners and neighbors were missing her weekly music, and I decided to learn the instrument myself and begin to teach younger generations.”

Plamann began her studies with Westminster Presbyterian Church’s carillonist, Lisa Hart, who has held the position since 2002 and oversaw the 2019 renovation of the instrument. Both Plamann and Hart are committed to introducing visitors of all ages to the bell tower. They have invited Sunday school classes, hosted children during Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza in collaboration with the Oklahoma City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and welcomed local college organ studios. For the past several semesters, Plamann has taken her organ students to the carillon for introductory sessions. She is now facilitating these sessions and has welcomed organ students from the University of Central Oklahoma to explore the carillon.

In November 2024, toward the end of her sabbatical, Plamann, along with Hart, participated in a three-day intensive study with Karel Keldermans, former director of both the International Carillon Festival and the Rees Memorial Carillon in Springfield, Illinois. Plamann has already begun incorporating basic carillon techniques into her organ lessons and aspires to establish formal carillon instruction at Oklahoma City University.

The carillon at Westminster Presbyterian Church originally consisted of thirty-five bells cast in 1954 by the Petit and Fritsen bell foundry in Aarle-Rixtel, the Netherlands, a foundry that has since merged with Royal Eijsbouts, Asten, the Netherlands. Seven bells were added in 1956, bringing the total to forty-two. In 2019, the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, with the guidance of Keldermans and Hart, replaced the original keyboard with one that has lighter action and faster baton recovery time. New clappers were provided for all bells.