Upcoming Music Events
at Kirk in the Hills
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Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir is comprised of professional and auditioned volunteer singers and sings during Sunday worship services in the sanctuary throughout the entire calendar year as well as for special seasonal services and concerts.
Children & Youth Choir Registration
Joyful Noise Choir
Pre-K through Grade 1
If you have questions or are interested in learning more about
Joyful Noise Choir at the Kirk, please contact
Carol Beth Litkouhi, Young Children's Choir Director, at cblitkouhi@kirkinthehills.org.
Joyful Noise Choir at the Kirk, please contact
Carol Beth Litkouhi, Young Children's Choir Director, at cblitkouhi@kirkinthehills.org.
St. Cecilia Choir
Grade 2 through Grade 6
If you have questions or are interested in learning more about
St. Cecilia Choir at the Kirk, please contact
Bobby Delisle, Children & Youth Choir Director, at bdelisle@kirkinthehills.org.
St. Cecilia Choir at the Kirk, please contact
Bobby Delisle, Children & Youth Choir Director, at bdelisle@kirkinthehills.org.
Cantamus Choir
Grade 7 through High School
If you have questions or are interested in learning more about Cantamus Choir at the Kirk, please contact
Bobby Delisle, Children & Youth Choir Director, at bdelisle@kirkinthehills.org.
Bobby Delisle, Children & Youth Choir Director, at bdelisle@kirkinthehills.org.
Bells of Blessings
In 1965 the Children’s Bells of Blessing (a chronochime) was installed over the west entrance doors to the Galilee, (the corridor where the Kirk Preschool is located) to delight children and adults as they enter the Abbey. The Bells of Blessing were made possible by a generous gift from Karl and Lillian Scott in loving memory of their daughter, Deborah Jean Scott (1945-1965), who was tragically killed in an auto accident in Toronto, Canada two weeks after her high school graduation from Havergal in Toronto.
The Children’s Bells of Blessing is an electric-automatic chronochime of twelve bells as well as figurines. Three doors open and the figure of Jesus appears to bless a continually-moving line of children.
The chronochime was designed and the bells were cast by the (former) Petit and Fritsen Bell Foundry of Aarle-Rixtel, the Netherlands. Royal Bellfounders Petit & Fritsen was one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the Netherlands, with the foundry dating back to 1660. Petit & Fritsen cast bells from tintinnabulous bell metal. The bells could be mounted as individual striking instruments, such as in a clock tower; could be combined into striking chimes; or could be mounted in complex carillons.
In 2014 Royal Eijsbouts, in Asten, Netherlands, acquired bell foundry Petit & Fritsen. Foundry activities in Aarle-Rixtel were moved to Asten. They currently maintain the Bells of Blessing and the Carillon at Kirk in the Hills.
The Children’s Bells of Blessing is an electric-automatic chronochime of twelve bells as well as figurines. Three doors open and the figure of Jesus appears to bless a continually-moving line of children.
The chronochime was designed and the bells were cast by the (former) Petit and Fritsen Bell Foundry of Aarle-Rixtel, the Netherlands. Royal Bellfounders Petit & Fritsen was one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the Netherlands, with the foundry dating back to 1660. Petit & Fritsen cast bells from tintinnabulous bell metal. The bells could be mounted as individual striking instruments, such as in a clock tower; could be combined into striking chimes; or could be mounted in complex carillons.
In 2014 Royal Eijsbouts, in Asten, Netherlands, acquired bell foundry Petit & Fritsen. Foundry activities in Aarle-Rixtel were moved to Asten. They currently maintain the Bells of Blessing and the Carillon at Kirk in the Hills.
The Kirk Carillon
High in the Kirk tower is the 77-bell carillon, the world's largest in number of bells (tied with our sister tower, Hyechon College in Korea). The carillon was cast by the 300 year-old royal bellfoundry of Petit and Fritsen, The Netherlands. The instrument was the gift of the Fruehauf family, designed by Dr. Frederick L. Marriott, longtime Kirk organist and carillonneur, and installed in 1960.
The largest bell, the Bourdon, is 6' 10" in diameter and weighs over six tons, and the smallest is only 6" in diameter and weighs fourteen pounds. While thirty-six of the bells may be played electrically (and therefore without dynamic nuance) from the sanctuary organ console, the full 77 bell compass is playable only (with dynamic nuance) from a mechanical keyboard called a clavier, located in a cabin in the belfry.
The largest bell, the Bourdon, is 6' 10" in diameter and weighs over six tons, and the smallest is only 6" in diameter and weighs fourteen pounds. While thirty-six of the bells may be played electrically (and therefore without dynamic nuance) from the sanctuary organ console, the full 77 bell compass is playable only (with dynamic nuance) from a mechanical keyboard called a clavier, located in a cabin in the belfry.
Five of the large bells (G, B, D, E and G) form a peal which swing freely; these five also sound in combination each quarter hour as directed by the instrument's computerized clock mechanism.
Midway up the tower is the Marriott Library, which serves as both a repository of Dr. Marriott's music library and his many compositions (including his works for carillon) as well as the home to a practice clavier of the same design as the carillon's clavier.
The instrument is normally played each Sunday before worship, for recitals on Sundays after worship (during the Summer Carillon Series featuring carillonneurs from around the world), before other concerts during the year, and frequently for weddings.
Midway up the tower is the Marriott Library, which serves as both a repository of Dr. Marriott's music library and his many compositions (including his works for carillon) as well as the home to a practice clavier of the same design as the carillon's clavier.
The instrument is normally played each Sunday before worship, for recitals on Sundays after worship (during the Summer Carillon Series featuring carillonneurs from around the world), before other concerts during the year, and frequently for weddings.