In Concert: Mr. Widmann at Baker Park

From within the 70-foot Joseph Dill Baker Tower and Carillon, John Widmann, the city carillonist for Frederick, Maryland, will enchant festivalgoers with a selection of beloved songs as the hour strikes midnight. The recital will begin, as recitals in Baker Park always do, with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in tribute to one of Frederick’s most notable sons: Francis Scott Key, author of the American national anthem.

The program on 49 bells may be enjoyed throughout the 58-acre Baker Park and its surrounding playgrounds, walking paths, pavilion, lake, and gardens. In additional to familiar American favorites, the recital will pay tribute to the 2025 spotlight nation: Ukraine. Expect to hear the Ukrainian national anthem and arrangements of beloved folksongs, like the enchanting “Marigolds.”

Note: This is an outdoor, self-guided listening event. Please bundle-up and dress appropriately for the weather. We recommend finding a cozy perch in the surrounding park paths and lawns. Choose a comfortable seat or spread a blanket for a tasty midnight picnic as the bells ring out above.

Meet the Carillonist: John Widmann

John Widmann is the resident carillonist for the City of Frederick, Maryland, where he plays recitals every Sunday at 12:30pm, year-round, on the Joseph Dill Baker Carillon in Baker Park, having held that position for over thirty years. Mr. Widmann graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and completed in his Master of Music degree from Towson University in 2011. In 2021-2022, Mr. Widmann studied for his diploma at the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Mechelen, Belgium.

Image: John Widmann, carillonist for the City of Frederick, Maryland, plays the carillon.

In addition to his Sunday recitals, he retired last year as a music and vocal music teacher with Frederick County Public Schools. He is also a freelance organist and conductor. Mr. Widmann became a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1996, and is a past member of the National Board of that organization. He maintains an active concert schedule and has played frequently in the U.S., along with recitals in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands Antilles. He lives in Frederick with his wife and sometimes their two grown children.

Cover image: The Joseph D. Baker Tower and Carillon in Frederick, Maryland, at night.