CARILLON HANDBELL CHOIR
Founded in 1985 by Dr. Larry D. Smith, Carillon consists of 10 to 14 ringers selected annually by campus-wide auditions. The ensemble performs 20 to 25 concerts annually for local to international audiences.
Carillon plays on six octaves of Schulmerich handbells and five octaves of Schulmerich tone chimes. Carillon owns C2 and F2 bells and is grateful to Schulmerich Carillons Inc. for the loan of the five additional seventh-octave bass bells and four upper-seventh-octave bells for their tours.
Noteworthy Performances
- In May 2003, Carillon performed by invitation for the 1958 Alumni Class Reunion of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, and also rang at The Riverside Church in New York City.
- During the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004, Carillon played over 20 concerts in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi before participating in the 2004 European Handbell Festival and playing concerts in Gouda, Netherlands; Trier, Germany; and Saarburg, Germany.
- In the spring of 2005, Carillon performed concerts in Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama before again traveling to Europe in July to perform in the 2005 European Handbell Festival – Italy.
- In the spring of 2006, at the invitation of the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, Carillon played solo and joint concerts with the University’s handbell choir and jazz band.
- In July 2007, Carillon attended the European Handbell Festival in Scotland, playing solo concerts as well as participating in festival concerts.
See more past performances.
Schedule Forthcoming...
Latest News!
In July 2007, Carillon attended the European Handbell Festival in Scotland, playing solo concerts as well as participating in festival concerts.
In April 2006, at the invitation of the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, Carillon played solo and joint concerts with the University’s handbell choir and jazz band.
Dr. Larry Smith
The University of Southern Mississippi
School of Music
118 College Drive #5081
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5826
E-mail: Larry.Smith@usm.edu
Dr. Larry D. Smith, professor of voice and founder/director of Southern Miss Carillon handbell choir, is in his 23rd year as voice teacher and ensemble director at The University of Southern Mississippi. He also is director of music at the First Presbyterian Church of Hattiesburg, Miss.