Grand Valley is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Cook Carillon Tower with a series of concerts featuring Taylor Swift, holiday selections and more. The community is invited to celebrate with GVSU as it marks this milestone for the Carillon, centrally located in the heart of the Allendale Campus.
GVSU celebrates 30th anniversary of Cook Carillon Tower with concert series, including Taylor Swift music
Sep 19, 2024
“We are thrilled to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Cook Carillon Tower, an iconic landmark of our campus,” said Jenny Hall-Jones, vice president for Student Affairs. “Its melodies have welcomed countless individuals to Grand Valley over the years, and we are excited to welcome our community to campus for a series of memorable concert experiences.”
Each 45-minute concert will include a unique selection of music played by a professional carillonneur. Music will range from well-known GVSU classics, like the fight song and alma mater, to an evening of Taylor Swift-themed tunes on October 11th. Attendees are encouraged to pack snacks to the picnic-style event, or grab one from a selection of food trucks that will be present.
Concerts currently scheduled for this fall include:
- Sept. 21, noon: Family weekend concert
- Sept. 28, 1 p.m.: Classical concert
- Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m.: Love Story: A Taylor Swift-inspired concert event
- Nov. 2, 11:30 a.m.: Homecoming concert
- Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m.: Holiday concert
More information on the concert series can be found on the Student Affairs website .
Image credit - University Archives.
The Tower contains a Carillon made up of 48 bells created by the renowned Dutch bell foundry Royal Eijsbouts. The bells range in size from 7.5 inches to 51 inches and from 14 to nearly 3,000 pounds.
President Emeritus Don Lubbers spoke to the importance of the landmark in a 1994 address to faculty and staff. “The Carillon project was an emotional one for me. I could not explain it very well,” he said. “I see the tower and the bells as a symbol of community. The ringing of the bells calls us together in a community of peace and common cause.”
MORE: Read more about the building and dedication of the Tower here .
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