Tower Talk – Page 10 – Mahanay Bell Tower

Chews Jefferson

Fusebox Marketing on June 6, 2019

Chews Jeffersonis the catchy title of a new event of the Promotion Committee in coordination of the Mahanay Bell Tower’s Tower Tunes Liveconcerts. This is the third year of the daily live concerts from 12:15 – 12:30 pm with local musicians sharing their talents by playing the carillon. An idea emerged to draw people to eat their lunch while listening to the concerts near the Tower. It is like Java & Juice, only bring your own lunch and it is on Wednesdays!

The Promotion committee contacted local eateries to offer a take-out special on Wednesdays in June. One restaurant each Wednesday would be the featured spot for people to stop in and get a $5 take-out lunch. Call ahead to have it ready for you. Then head to the Bell Tower Plaza, Thomas Jefferson Gardens, or Sally’s Alley to enjoy the concert during lunch. Everyone is invited to “Chews Jefferson” on Wednesdays.

Lynda Cochran and Angie Reese-Heuser are chairing this event for the month of June working with restaurants in the Main Street District. Debra McGinn is helping with publicity. The Promotion committee plans to work with the Chamber of Commerce to see if other restaurants around Jefferson would be willing to offer a $5 take-out meal on a specific Wednesday during the rest of the summer.

Mahanay Maestros

Fusebox Marketing on June 6, 2019

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!

Certified Tour Guides

Fusebox Marketing on May 22, 2019

Two of our Bell Tower staff have become certified tour guides. Joyce Kurth, newest member of the Tower staff, and Pat Richards, Tower staff coordinator, attended a day-long session on tour guide training put on by Iowa State Extension in early April. They worked through the guide book they were given to fine-tune their tour-giving skills. In early May, each gave a sample tour to Diane Van Wyngarden, ISU Extension Specialist in Tour Guide Training and Certification at the Mahanay Bell Tower. Diane commented that she thoroughly enjoyed the tours, learned more about what we have to offer tourists in Greene County, and thought we were far and above many other towns in Iowa! And….Joyce and Pat are now officially certified and working on a list of tips for our staff. Congratulations to both of the ambassadors to the community!

Mahanay Tower Staff

Fusebox Marketing on May 13, 2019

We are so pleased to introduce our Mahanay Bell Tower staff for 2019 with many returning for multiple years. These ambassadors for the community are often the first people visitors meet and feel so welcomed.

Mahanay Bell Tower opens this weekend.

Fusebox Marketing on April 29, 2019

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will open officially for the 2019 season on Saturday, May 4th. Hours will be 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. each weekend in May and then daily beginning Memorial Day weekend. With the increased visitors during the month of September, the Bell Tower Foundation Board decided to remain open daily for the month of September and weekends in October. The Tower is also available by appointment by calling the Greene County Chamber & Tourism office at 515-386-2155. Pat Richards continues as the Tower Staff coordinator with an experienced group of staff returning for the 2019 season.

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon expanded to 47 bells on Memorial Day weekend in 2017. The Mahanay Music committee has a list of musicians with at least 2 years of piano experience to volunteer to play the bells for the daily Tower Tunes Live concerts from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. These concerts will begin on Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day weekend. Musicians can choose their own music. The bells are played on a digital keyboard connected to the bells. The musicians who played last year enjoyed the experience of playing such a large instrument. Becky Greiner, Peg Raney and Pat Richards are collecting names and contact information for anyone wanting to be added to the list. Musicians can also email mahanaybelltower@gmail.com An electronic calendar will be sent out for musicians to choose when they would like to play.

2019 Season Passes will again be available at the Mahanay Tower for $15. This allows the individual to visit the Tower for the entire year.

The website www.mahanaybelltower.org and Facebook page are also kept up-to-date with information and pictures about the Mahanay Bell Tower. The Bell Tower Community Foundation encourages people to check these out and share with visitors.

Santa & Mrs. Claus visit kids on Dec. 6.

Fusebox Marketing on December 3, 2018

Santa & Mrs. Claus will arrive in Jefferson at 6:15 pm on Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens. Everyone is invited to watch this annual tradition! They will light the community Christmas tree in the Gardens at 6:30 pm. This tree will remain lit through the Christmas holidays. Santa & Mrs. Claus will then make their way to the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower to visit with youngsters and their families from 6:45 – 7:30 pm. With the lights of the bells in the observation deck, this is a special location for kids to tell Santa their Christmas wishes. The admission to the Tower is free for all during this special evening!

Christmas Tower Tunes Live Concerts

Fusebox Marketing on November 16, 2018

Local musicians will play the Mahanay Memorial Carillon during the Christmas season. On Tuesdays and Thursdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, special Tower Tunes Live Concerts will be played from 5:15 – 5:30 p.m. Musicians involved are Rick Morain, Pat Richards, Danille Curtis and Bonnie Orris. Each musician will select their own music so expect a great variety of wonderful holiday music.

Happy Birthday to the Bell Tower

Fusebox Marketing on October 25, 2018

http://greenecountynewsonline.com/2018/10/17/happy-birthday-to-the-bell-tower-2/#more-48743 Link to GreeneCountyNewsOnline story.

The Bell Tower Community Foundation treated the county supervisors to Deal’s apple cider donuts with birthday candles to mark the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower’s 52nd birthday Monday. The supervisors were game enough to sing the birthday song in return for the donuts.

Foundation president Carole Custer also presented the board with a framed certificate commemorating the dedication of the 47-bell carillon two years ago.

Supervisor Pete Bardole, ex officio member of the foundation, accepted the certificate. He and supervisor Dawn Rudolph are both the same age as the bell tower – 52.

52 yrs old

Fusebox Marketing on October 15, 2018

On Oct. 16, the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower is 52 yrs. old. To celebrate, the Tower will be open on Oct. 13 & 14 will be open from 10 – 4 with all persons 52 yrs old admitted free. Youth 18 and under are always free courtesy of Jefferson Hy-Vee. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, “Happy Birthday” will be played on the carillon right after each hour to celebrate.

The Mahanay Bell Tower will be open weekends in October from 10 -4 and is the perfect place to view the beautiful fall colors of rural Iowa from the 120 ft. Paul Nally Observation Deck accessed by elevator. The bells play the Westminster Chimes each quarter hour and 3 songs after each hour.

ISU carillonneur to play in Jefferson on Sept. 1

Fusebox Marketing on August 24, 2018

A special carillon concert to conclude the Tower Tunes Live summer series will be performed on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. by Iowa State University Carillonneur Dr. Tin-Shi Tam and five of her students. The Mahanay Memorial Carillon was expanded to forty-seven bells from fourteen in May of 2017 to allow for a larger repertoire and the ability for musicians to play the digital keyboard. The Foundation is pleased to announce this amazing opportunity of this concert partnering with the Thomas Jefferson Gardens Board of Directors. The Gardens and the Courthouse Square are perfect places to hear the concert and concert-goers are invited to bring a lawn chair to sit back and enjoy the music. A light lunch will follow at the Welcome Center in the Thomas Jefferson Gardens with attendees having a chance to listen to Dr. Tam and her students share their thoughts on playing the carillon. The public is invited to attend this free event.

The keyboard that Tin-Shi Tam plays at Iowa State University is a traditional carillon played by striking the batons with fists and pressing the pedal keyboard with feet. Dr. Tam and other musicians climb the stairs to the top of their carillon to play the instrument. The Mahanay Memorial Carillon is played with a traditional keyboard much like an electronic piano and it is located one level above the lobby accessed by a shorter set of stairs. Over 40 musicians with two years of piano experience through professional musicians have played the local carillon since the installation of the additional bells for a four octave carillon. This will be the first time that Dr. Tin-Shi Tam will play this instrument.

Bell Tower Community Foundation President Carole Custer explained, “Dr. Tin-Shi Tam is world-renown as a carillonneur. There are only four carillons in Iowa and Jefferson is fortunate to attract this caliber of expertise to our Mahanay Memorial Carillon.”

Thomas Jefferson Gardens Board member and one of the Mahanay Maestros, Becky Greiner shared, “Jefferson has had a long history of hosting outstanding musicians and bands. We look forward to featuring our first carillonneur. What an opportunity!”

Tin-Shi Tam, a native of Hong Kong, is the Cownie Professor of Music (University Carillonneur) and the Chair of the Keyboard Division. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ from The University of Michigan. At present, she is a jury of the Associate Carillonneur Examination Committee of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.

A celebrated artist on carillon and organ, TAM has given recitals in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States. As an active clinician, TAM has given master classes, lectures and education programs extensively. Her carillon compact disk “The Bells of Iowa State” was released in 2004.