Work will begin in mid-August and be completed by next spring

Cleveland, OH— 12 June 2024 — The Friends of the McGaffin Carillon is beginning the final phase of a $661,000 renovation of the landmark Alexander McGaffin Carillon. This project expands the musical capabilities of the instrument and prepares it for a future student guild of carillonists.

The McGaffin Carillon

The Alexander McGaffin Carillon, dedicated in 1968, is one of only 185 cast-bell carillons in North America. The instrument consists of 47 bronze bells cast in The Netherlands and weighing 15,000 pounds. It is played by a performer high in the tower. Performances are heard throughout the University Circle area of Cleveland. The renovation will add four new bells to expand the musical possibilities and replace the aging mechanism with a world-standard adopted in 2006. New clock chimes and a digital automatic play mechanism will also be installed. The restoration of the three-bell swinging peal was completed in 2018, and a new practice instrument was built and gifted to The Friends in 2022.

The Friends of the McGaffin Carillon (FMC)

The Friends of the McGaffin Carillon was founded in 2015 as an independent 501c3 nonprofit to expand the activities of the carillon into the community and to assist in the instrument’s upkeep. Since its founding, The Friends have been raising the funds for this renovation. Over 235 donors have contributed to the effort.

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For More Information:

George Leggiero, FMC Executive Director
216 535-4411
gleggiero@ucbells.org

Information about The McGaffin Carillon:

The Alexander McGaffin Carillon
11205 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1717
www.ucbells.org