People of all ages crowed near the grounds around Beaumont Tower on July 2 to ring in the first performer of the 18th Annual Muelder Summer Carillon Recital Series.
Patrick Macoska, carillonneur for St. Mary’s of Redford, had a mix of songs ranging from classical to well-known pieces. He said he includes tunes that people will recognize in the program.
“When I am playing for a recital like this and I know there are going to be a lot of folks and young people and a diverse crowd, I try to not to pick all serious music,” Macoksa said.
Macoska also said he started playing the instrument later in life when he really just wanted to try something new.
“I had started learning carillon about 20 years ago in my mid 40s” Macoska said. “It was kind of one of those mid-life things.”
BJ Nocera, an East Lansing Resident, came to the recital and said she always looks forward to the music because she will never know what to expect from the different performers.
“Every artist is a little bit different than the other ones, so the music is never the same,” Nocera said “It is always an anticipation on what are they going to be playing.”
Nocera also said she and her husband have been coming for many years and plan on attending the rest of the recitals this year.
To learn more about the carillon or view the entire concert series, click here.