Bok Tower Gardens > The Tower > Carillonneur

Carillonneur

William De Turk

William De Turk was appointed director of carillon services of Bok Tower Gardens, effective July 1, 2004. He was assistant carillonneur and librarian since 1993. A native of the Philadelphia area, he received a bachelor of music degree cum honore from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, and master of music degree in organ performance from the University of Michigan, where he studied the carillon with Percival Price, university carillonneur and noted campanologist. In 1974, he was invited to be come the first carillon scholar at the Bok Singing Tower and worked for one year with Milford Myhre.

De Turk was carillonneur (1981-87) for the University of Michigan and hosted the 1986 World Carillon Congress, the first held in North America. Activities in The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America include four years as president and archivist since 1972.

De Turk has performed recitals throughout the United States and in Canada and Europe. His interest in research in the field of carillons and bells has resulted in 11 published articles. Honors include the Berkeley Medal from the University of California at Berkeley for distinguished service to the carillon and a plaque and bell for his extraordinary contribution to the art of the carillon at the combined 12th World Carillon Federation Congress and 39th International Carillon Festival in Springfield, Ill. In 2001 he played the closing recital for the 59th Congress of the GCNA. In 2002 he performed in Denmark and for the 13th International Carillon Congress in Cobh, Ireland.

Milford Myhre

Milford Myhre retired in June 2004 after 36 years as the Gardens’ carillonneur. His musical training was obtained at the University of Nebraska, the University of Michigan and briefly at the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Belgium. His carillon mentors were Ronald Barnes, Staf Nees and Percival Price. He has performed recitals in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and many of his carillon arrangements have been published. During his distinguished career of more than 50 years, he served as president for both the GCNA and the World Carillon Federation. Honors include the Berkeley Medal, honorary membership in the GCNA and Guilde des Carillonneurs de France, and an honorary doctorate from the University of the South in Tennessee.

Two CD recordings by Myhre are available at the Tower and Garden Gift Shop, “A Carillon Recital at the Bok Singing Tower” and “Christmas Carillon from Bok Tower Gardens.”

The Anton Brees Carillon Library

The Anton Brees Carillon Library is the largest and most comprehensive carillon library in the world. It was established in 1968 and named after the Gardens’ first carillonneur, Anton Brees. Concentration is on the carillon: books, periodicals, recital programs, music scores, recordings, slides, photographs and vertical files. Related subjects include bells, chimes and bellfounding.

The Library includes the archives of Ronald Barnes, Arthur L. Bigelow, Anton Brees, Melvin C. Corbett, Raymond Keldermans, Rémy Müller, Daniel Robins, Ira Schroeder, Harold B. Simons and J. Lewis Smith.

Search the Anton Brees Carillon Library Database. Note: enter “Anton Brees” for library name. No password needed.

The Library also houses the Bok Tower Gardens Archives and the Archives of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.

Inquiries should be made to bdeturk@boktower.org