Description
About the carillonneur
Bernard Winsemius studied carillon at the Netherlands Carillon School in Amersfoort. After graduation, he was awarded the Prix d’ Excellence and was asked to serve as carillon instructor at the school. He is emeritus city carillonneur for both Haarlem and Amsterdam. In addition, Winsemius studied the organ at the Amsterdam Conservatory and has been organist of the historic organs of the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam since 1981. His primary focus is Renaissance and Baroque music.
Featuring national and international carillonneurs, the annual Summer Carillon Concerts are held at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in June. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics and enjoy the music from the Main Quadrangle or on the Seminary grounds near Luther Statue. In the event of rain, guests may gather under the archways and tower on campus.
The carillon at Concordia Seminary is one of only 170 such instruments in North America. The 49 bells have been played atop the 120-foot Luther Tower since 1971, and are dedicated to all pastors who have served The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.