Tower Tunes Live Concert
Mahanay Maestro Rita Rasmussen will play the carillon with songs of her choice.
Tower Tunes Live Concert
Mahanay Maestro Lisa Ott will play the carillon with songs of her choice.
Tower Tunes Live Concert
Mahanay Maestro Pat Richards will play the carillon with songs of her choice.
Tower Tunes Live Concert
Mahanay Maestro Rick Morain will play the carillon with songs of his choice.
Tower Tunes Live Concert
Mahanay Maestro Shelly Berger will play the carillon with Memorial Day songs of her choice.
Tower Opens for 2025
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will officially open weekends in May starting May 3-4. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm. Daily hours begin on Memorial Day weekend through the end of October with hours from 10 am – 4 pm.
At this time, the elevator is not operable so tours will not include a trip to the observation deck. As soon as the needed part is installed, an announcement will be made. The staff will enjoy telling the story of the Tower and directing visitors to other local attractions.
The four octaves of bells play the Westminster chimes at each quarter hour throughout the day. A carillon concert of two songs is played after each hour from 9 am – 7 pm. The “Jefferson Chimes” written by local musician Jennifer Powers is played on the carillon after the 8 am Westminster Chimes and the 8 pm Westminster Chimes to begin and end each day.
The Bell Tower Lobby offers souvenirs, an historical video, and special items telling the story of the tower and the Jefferson community. A display honors the many Bell Tower of Fame Award recipients. Visitors are asked to locate their home on the maps – both U.S. and the world. The hospitality-trained tower tour guides are very knowledgeable about the history of the tower and Greene County.
At this time, there will be no admission fee for visitors and they will be contacted when the elevator is operable again.
For more information about the tower and activities, follow the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page, Instagram, and check out the website www.mahanaybelltower.org
Become a Mahanay Maestro
Inviting New Mahanay Maestros to Play the Historic Mahanay Memorial Carillon
Jefferson, IA – Do you have at least two years of piano experience and a love for music? The Mahanay Memorial Carillon is looking for more musicians to join our team of Mahanay Maestros! This is a unique opportunity to share your musical talents by playing the beautiful 47-bell carillon in downtown Jefferson.
Each summer, the Mahanay Maestros perform Tower Tunes Live concerts on Wednesdays for a 15-minute session, filling the town with music that the public loves to hear – recognizable tunes, religious music, and patriotic songs. Musicians select their own music, and training will be provided.
Tower Tunes Live concerts are held from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Wednesdays from 12:15 – 12:30 pm. Maestros select the day(s) they can play. To participate, nominees must complete the nomination form and be approved. The carillon keyboard is up one flight of stairs in the Mahanay Tower. There is no monetary compensation, but your contributions will be deeply appreciated by the community.
If you or someone you know is interested, complete the nomination form online at mahanaybelltower.org. Simply go to Join Our Team and click Become a Maestro to access the form. Here is the direct link: https://mahanaybelltower.org/about/volunteer/
For more information, contact Mahanay Music Coordinator Peg Raney at mahanaybelltower@gmail.com
Come be part of a cherished local tradition and make the bells ring out for all to enjoy!
Join Our Team!
Join Our Team at the Bell Tower Community Foundation!
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do you enjoy engaging with others and sharing local history? We’re hiring for these exciting part time positions. Click here for Job Descriptions.
- Finance & Social Media Coordinator
- Responsibilities:
- Manage financial records, budget tracking, and reporting.
- Develop and schedule engaging content for social media platforms.
- Increase community engagement and promote events.
- Qualifications:
- Strong organizational and financial skills.
- Experience with social media content creation and marketing.
- Passion for promoting community initiatives.
- Mahanay Bell Tower Staff & Tour Coordinator
- Responsibilities:
- Oversee staffing and scheduling for tower operations.
- Coordinate and lead tours, sharing the history of the iconic Mahanay Bell Tower.
- Ensure a welcoming and memorable experience for all visitors.
- Qualifications:
- Strong communication and leadership skills.
- Enthusiasm for local history and tourism.
- Ability to manage schedules and coordinate staff.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of preserving and promoting a beloved community landmark.
- Flexible part-time hours.
- Opportunity to engage with locals and visitors alike.
To Apply:
Submit your application, available here and on the Mahanay Bell Tower website at https://mahanaybelltower.org, along with your resume to the Jefferson Matters Welcome Center or e-mail to mahanaybelltower@gmail.com.
Join us in keeping the spirit of the Bell Tower ringing strong!
Christmas Tower Tunes Live Concert
Mahanay Maestro Carol Hanson will debut her first performance on the carillon with Christmas songs of her choice.
Caroling with the Bells
Bundle up and sing along with the Mahanay Maestros as they play familiar holiday songs in December. Each Thursday from 5:15 – 5:30 pm, a Maestro will play their selections on the carillon of the Mahanay Bell Tower. The Bell Tower Foundation invites the public to meet on the Bell Tower Plaza and sing along. Words will not be provided, so it will be fun to see who knows these songs, both religious and secular.
The Mahanay Maestros playing each Thursday will be Dec. 5 – Jenny Wills; Dec. 12 – Rita Rasmussen; and Dec. 19 – Danille Curtis. On Dec. 26, new Mahanay Maestro Carol Hansen will be playing for the first time.
