About the Guild
The Guild is the student organization responsible for ringing the bells in Harkness Tower. It is a self-perpetuating group: each fall, the current members give lessons to freshmen and sophomores (and sometimes graduate students) on the practice carillon, and, after auditions, elect new members to the Guild.
The Guild was founded in 1949 by Elliot H. Kone BR '49 as the Guild of Yale Bellringers. It was renamed in 1964, two years before the donation of 44 additional bells expanded the original chime to a 54-bell carillon.
We currently have 21 full-time members, and a few adjunct members. Each Guild member has their own ring spot (see above!). Our teacher is Ellen Dickinson, who is a Yale and Guild alum; she comes in a few times a week to give us lessons to help us continue playing beautiful music for all of campus!
Besides ringing bells for Yale's campus, the Guild does two yearly tours. The smaller tour is Mini-Tour, and past Mini-Tours have taken the Guild to Pennsylvania and Boston. The larger tour alternates between a European Tour and a Domestic Tour.
We also play handbells. For more information, click here!
During the summer, the Guild also hosts a summer series that invites carillonneurs from around the world to come play a weekly concert. In general, the Guild simply loves spending time together, so there are lots of snacks, dinners, movies, hanging out, and lots of general fun is involved!
Current Members
Click here for the list of Guild alumni.
Erica Ho |
Graduate Student 2022 |
| Psychology |
Erica is a third-year PhD student in clinical psychology and neuroscience, and she is also a proud Cornell Chimesmaster. Erica loves staircases, cats, and whales.
Jeremy Weiss |
Jonathan Edwards 2022 |
| Computer Science and Math |
Sharon Ahn |
Branford 2022 |
| Computing and the Arts (Music) |
Sharon is probably in rehearsal, in a practice room, or napping (or any combination of the above)... Please leave a message after the tone. *defgecd*
Zacharie Sciamma |
Davenport 2022 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science |
Alvin Chung |
Silliman 2021 |
| Economics |
Alvin is a freshman from Potomac, Maryland. He is a percussionist in YSO but a Carillonneur at heart. He also practices the piano every then and now. Give him a box of Ferrero Rochers and he will always be with you through thick. The thin will cost you extra. Maybe a chipotle burrito bowl consisting of white rice, steak, tomatoes, sour cream, corn, cheese, lettuce and guacamole?
Annie Gao |
Branford 2021 |
| Derp | Computer Science |
Annie is a bright blue puffy jacket from Southern California who gets (too) excited by socks, ping pong, super dark chocolate (85-100%), pandas, and the sound of raindrops on umbrellas.
Robert Carter |
Hopper 2021 |
| Physics |
Robert is from Corpus Christi, Texas (a.k.a The Sparkling City by the Sea). He enjoys watching rousing physics videos on YouTube, among other types of videos. Robert plays the piano and is also a Baroque enthusiast who likes to indulge his ears in the beautiful sounds of the harpsichord and organ. Robert constantly asks himself where he is, not because he is lost geographically, but because he is lost inside.
Paul Stelben |
Hopper 2021 |
| Music |
Paul didn't want to show his face for the picture; he was too busy practicing. In addition to the carillon, he plays the bassoon. He likes to think that he plays piano and organ too, but who has time for all of that? Paul loves long walks, trains, stairs, and Frisbee.
Michael Gancz |
Murray 2021 |
| Music (MA/BA) |
Michael was taking his trombone out for a stroll when he strayed too far from the new colleges and got lost. Now he's stuck in Harkness Tower and can't get down. Please send help.
Nathan Wu |
Davenport 2021 |
Anne Lu |
Berkeley 2020 |
| Tour Manager, Social Chair |
Anne loves cats, Chopin, and 72% Godiva dark chocolate. She used to love spiral staircases but has learned that it is much easier to admire them from afar.
James Carrabino |
Trumbull 2020 |
| Heeler Monster, Social Chair |
James is sleeping so he did not write a bio. Oh bell...
John Mori |
Ezra Stiles 2020 |
| Tour Manager, Historian | E-flat Major |
John is a fan of secondary dominants, so he tends to modulate too frequently.
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Noah Kravitz |
2020 |
| Librarian |
Noah is a freshman from Washington, DC. When he's not playing the carillon, he enjoys eating dark chocolate, playing fetch with his Welsh Terrier Maisy, and running long distances.
Vladyslav Nazarchuk |
Trumbull 2020 |
Vlad is junior from New Jersey, majoring in mathematics and music. He loves cathedrals and all things medieval. If he were a musical key, it would be C minor.
Kevin Chang |
Jonathan Edwards 2020 |
| Treasurer, Webmaster | MB&B |
Kevin is from Pleasantville, NY. Kevin likes to eat sushi and sleep. Until Kevin comes up with a creative bio, that's all you need to know about Kevin.
Laura Street |
Ezra Stiles 2020 |
| English |
Laura Street is a sophomore from Atlanta, GA, but for some reason, she doesn't say "y'all." Every day, she sets aside 1.42 hours to marvel at the lack of right angles in Stiles, and actively looks for ways to climb as many stairs as possible. She is a die-hard coffee enthusiast, which some find alarming. Also, she might like classical music a little bit.
Agata Sorotokin |
Pierson 2019 |
Dame Sorotokin is a Pierson freshman from San Jose, California. Besides playing carillon and piano, she enjoys attempting to throat sing (and mostly failing), eating dark chocolate, drinking tea 50 times a day, and adventuring.
Heather Wang |
Berkeley 2019 |
| Co-Chair | Undecided |
What Heather learned in boating school is:
Stephen Wang |
Branford 2019 |
| Treasurer |
A sophomore from Houston, Texas, Stephen is a prospective MB&B major. In his free time, he enjoys laughing loudly, building puzzles, playing tennis and lacrosse, and blah blah blah.
Joy Chiu |
Jonathan Edwards 2019 |
| Heeler Monster, Historian, Newsletter Editor |
Joy is a warm feeling of great happiness and delight. She is typically most noticeable around the holiday season, although she does flit around Yale's campus year-round. You can conjure joy (Joy?) with fancy, nice-smelling bar soaps and furry dogs. Hugs, breakfast sandwiches, and frozen custard will work as well.
Milo Brandt |
Trumbull 2019 |
| Co-chair | Mathematics and Music |
Milo is a fan of alliteration and, for this purpose, studies mathematics and music. He enjoys working outside hoping that, one day, he can convince the birds and other wildlife to help him (with homework), like they do in Snow White.
Sarah Luckart |
Branford 2019 |
| Psychology |
Sarah is a senior in Branford College majoring in Psychology. Outside of the Tower, she fixes computers and plays viola. She has a collection of small succulents and her favorite is a red-headed cactus named George (Weasley).
Alicia Ding |
Pierson 2016 |
| HSHM and MCDB |
Alicia is in Pierson College. She sometimes laughs at inopportune moments, also plays French horn in the Yale Symphony Orchestra and has an affinity for boxes. She also generally prefers Oxford commas, but...
Andy Zhang |
Graduate Student 2015 |
| Linguistics |
Andy, whose cognitive science major was neurolinguistics-flavored, enjoys botany, cats, espresso, and metropolises.
Katie Leiby |
Silliman 2014 |
| Biomedical Engineering |
Katie is a biomedical engineering major. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, and knitting. She regrets that two of her favorite things, peanut butter and anything French, are mutually exclusive.
Michael Solotke |
Davenport 2013 |
| MB&B |
Michael is an MB&B major in Davenport College (2013). Originally from Chicago's North Shore, he also plays the trombone in the YSO and the piano. Outside of his love for Harkness Tower (his fiercest love), he enjoys sketchy late night walks, general ridiculousness, and buttons.
Ellen Dickinson |
|
| Guild Advisor and Teacher | Music |
Ellen '97, '99 MUS, has previously been a member of the Board of Directors of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. She joined the Yale Guild in her sophomore year, and served as co-chair in her junior and senior years. She now serves as the Guild's advisor, and has two children, ages five and seven.