The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower is now a full four octave 47 bell instrument with the additional bells installed before the 2017 Bell Tower Festival.  A truly unique experience for musicians with at least two years of piano experience is to play the digital keyboard located just one floor up from the lobby.  In the past two years, 40+ local and visiting musicians have shared their music at the “Tower Tunes Live” daily concerts from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. These concerts are played live each day from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Since the musicians choose their own music, many people eat their lunch near the square and try to name the tunes played by the musicians.  

Throughout the entire year, three songs are played on the bells digitally after each hour so visitors always have a chance to hear the Carillon Tower.  The Westminster Chimes chime on each quarter hour with each hour sounded as well.  

A music committee from the Bell Tower Community Foundation have been organizing these concerts through an online calendar.  Musicians who would like to be contacted should email mahanaybelltower@gmail.com or contact Becky Greiner, Pat Richards or Peg Raney with contact information.  Check out the schedule on the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page or at the website www.mahanaybelltower.org.  See the Image Gallery of our Mahanay Maestros!

Would you like to have an experience of a lifetime – playing the Mahanay Memorial Carillon?  You would be called a Mahanay Maestro!  This rare opportunity to play the 4 octave carillon will be available to musicians with at least 2 years of piano experience. 

The keyboard is electronically connected to the 47 bells in the tower.  The community will be able to hear these concerts between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday, July 23 in Jefferson.  Musicians may sign up and pay the $10 fee at the 168 ft. Mahanay Bell Tower- which will be easy to locate in the downtown square. Maestros will need to climb the stairs to the level above the lobby area.  For $10, one song selection can be played with music books available.  Floyd Mahanay specified in his will that selections of sacred and patriotic music must be played 50% of the time.  The Bell Tower Foundation has decided that 80’s music could be chosen to play on July 23 with a nod to the Highway to Bells Jefferson RAGBRAI theme.  A staff member will assist the musicians in playing the carillon.  Each will also receive a Mahanay Maestro button to declare their experience.  

The Mahanay Bell Tower will be open to the public on July 23 from 10 am – 9 pm.  The experienced Bell Tower Staff will share the story of the Tower and lead tours to the 120 ft. glass enclosed Paul Nally Observation Deck accessed by elevator.  The view of rural Iowa is spectacular and unique. Rooftop art can only be seen from this vantage point. The long line of cyclists on the Highway to Bells will be quite the sight from the top of the Tower. A photo op in the observation deck will be available with people encouraged to #irodethehighwaytobells  or #mahanaybelltower

The Mahanay Tower was built in 1966 with 14 bells.  For the 50th anniversary in 2016, the Bell Tower Foundation Board raised funds and received grants to expand the tower to 47 bells.  The additional bells were installed just one year ago.  The Westminster Chimes play each hour and quarter hour.  Two songs are played after each hour with a Tower Tunes Live Concert played daily by musicians from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m.  The non-profit Bell Tower Foundation Board works to enhance the Tower collaboratively with the Greene County Board of Supervisors who own and maintain the Tower. 

Admission to the Mahanay Bell Tower is $3 for over 18 yrs. and free to 18 & younger courtesy of the Jefferson Hy-Vee.