News & Events
Carillon to Ring on July 4
For the 10th year at exactly 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July, Mercersburg Academy will join other schools, colleges, government institutions, as well as all commissioned ships of the U.S. Navy, in the National Bell Ringing Ceremony. Bells all over America will ring at this time. The event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution and is coordinated in part by former Academy history teacher and current Library Assistant, Henry A. Kittredge, who is a member of the Sons.
Resident carillonneur and former faculty member and director of music, James W. Smith, will play patriotic music and hymns. Visitors are always invited up into the bell tower to watch the concert and see the bells. There will be seating in the Chapel if the weather is inclement.
James W. Smith graduated with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and began a teaching career at St. Mark’s School of Texas in 1963. He came to Mercersburg Academy as an organist and choirmaster in 1965. In 1981, Smith was appointed carillonneur of Mercersburg Academy’s Swoope Carillon following the retirement of Bryan Barker, who served the Academy for 53 years. Smith retired from teaching in 2001 and was honored with the Alumni Council Award for service and accomplishment at the Academy. In the same year, he was successful at the Advancement Examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America, thereby obtaining full membership of the guild. He was elected to the board of directors of the guild in 2005.
For the 10th year at exactly 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July, Mercersburg Academy will join other schools, colleges, government institutions, as well as all commissioned ships of the U.S. Navy, in the National Bell Ringing Ceremony. Bells all over America will ring at this time. The event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution and is coordinated in part by former Academy history teacher and current Library Assistant, Henry A. Kittredge, who is a member of the Sons.
Resident carillonneur and former faculty member and director of music, James W. Smith, will play patriotic music and hymns. Visitors are always invited up into the bell tower to watch the concert and see the bells. There will be seating in the Chapel if the weather is inclement.
James W. Smith graduated with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and began a teaching career at St. Mark’s School of Texas in 1963. He came to Mercersburg Academy as an organist and choirmaster in 1965. In 1981, Smith was appointed carillonneur of Mercersburg Academy’s Swoope Carillon following the retirement of Bryan Barker, who served the Academy for 53 years. Smith retired from teaching in 2001 and was honored with the Alumni Council Award for service and accomplishment at the Academy. In the same year, he was successful at the Advancement Examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America, thereby obtaining full membership of the guild. He was elected to the board of directors of the guild in 2005.
