CLEARWATER - The Church of the Ascension will host five outdoor concerts featuring carillonneur Lee Cobb performing on its unique 49-bell carillon from May through September.
Concert dates are second Sundays, June 14 - Sept. 13. Concerts begin at 6 p.m.
The church is located near downtown Clearwater at 701 Orange Ave., Clearwater, in the historic Harbor Oaks subdivision.
Music lovers are invited to bring lawn chairs or sit in their cars under the oaks. Refreshments will be served.
Lee Cobb, formerly assistant carillonneur at Bok Tower in Lake Wales, is an adjudicator for the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, is a composer of carillon music. He plays throughout the U.S. and the Netherlands. He has recently joined the church staff as organist, carillonneur and choirmaster.
The Betty Jane Dimmitt Memorial Carillon, built in 1982, is one of only four carillons in the state of Florida. Its 49 tuned bells, housed in a 75-foot tower, were cast at the Royal Eijsbouts Foundry in Holland. The bells encompass four octaves and range in size from 31 pounds to 2.5 tons. The carillon is played year-round in conjunction with worship services, concerts, weddings and funerals.
The concert schedule is as follows:
June 14: "Pop Music of the '50s, '60s and '70s"
July 12: "Americana Concert: Rags by Scott Joplin, Songs by Stephen Foster, American Hymns"
Aug. 9: "Folk Songs and Waltzes: Ph Danny Boy, Sakura, Chopin's Minute Waltz"
Sept. 13: "Familiar Classics: Mozart, Bach, Music for Carillon, Florida Medley, including Swanee River, University of Florida Fight Song, etc.
