Learn to Play the Carillon

The National Bell Festival invites D.C. residents of Wards 7 and 8 to learn to play the carillon at the North American Carillon School under a full scholarship. After all coursework is completed, the scholarship recipient(s) will be invited to perform at the Emancipation Bells inaugural ringing event and will receive a one-year performance residency at the new carillon.

About the Emancipation Bells scholarship

The requirements, terms, and conditions for the Emancipation Bells scholarship application are available below. The application deadline is June 1, 2023, with the scholarship awarded in August.

The scholarship recipient will enroll in the North American Carillon School (NACS) to study carillon and carillon-related courses for one academic year (approximately 35 weeks). The academic year begins in September 2023 and ends in June 2024.

Carillon lessons will be given in Arlington, Virginia, at the Netherlands Carillon. Instruction will comprise one 45-minute lesson every two weeks, with access to a practice carillon keyboard during normal operating hours at Arlington Cemetery.

Additional coursework, including readings and lectures, will be given online. The scholarship recipient will be expected to complete all required coursework satisfactorily.

Coursework and in-person lessons will prepare the scholarship recipient to take either the NACS Proficiency Certificate examination or the Performance Diploma examination (depending on the entry level of the recipient) in June 2024.

Benefits and requirements

The Emancipation Bells scholarship covers:

Full tuition for all NACS required courses, including: Carillon Performance (Instructor: Carlo van Ulft); Marketing and Promotion of the Carillon (Instructor: Frank DellaPenna); Campanology and History of the Carillon (Instructor: Luc Rombouts); and Arranging for Carillon (Instructor: Carlo van Ulft).

Expenses for all required course books, a license for the latest version of the Finale Music Editing software, and access to any required instruction or rehearsal carillon(s).

Travel allowance, made available based upon the recipient’s needs, to attend biweekly lessons at the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington, Virginia.

Scholarship funds will be distributed to the recipient per trimester based upon a positive progress report from the various instructors. The selected scholarship recipient will be able to demonstrate that they meet these base qualification measures:

Medium- to high-level music performance proficiency in a field other than carillon (e.g. piano, organ, or another musical instrument).

Degree in music is preferable, but not mandatory.

Applicants with previous carillon experience are eligible.

Must be a minimum 18 years of age.

Must be available for coursework and lessons from September 2023 through June 2024.

Must be a resident of Ward 7 or Ward 8 in Washington, D.C.

Ready to apply? The application form may be submitted electronically directly to the North American Carillon School. A committee of NACS directors will review all applicants and recommend a scholarship recipient to the National Bell Festival.

The North American Carillon School and the National Bell Festival reserve the right to not select a scholarship recipient from the applications received for any reason. No other prize or monetary compensation will be awarded.