Aya Fadlelzebair
Research Mentor(s): Tiffany Ng
Mentor Department: Organ/Carillon
Authors:
Session: Session 7 (4:00pm – 4: 50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 2
Abstract
Carillons, the iconic bell instruments heard daily from Burton and Lurie Towers, have long been a symbol of public music. However, their history and repertoire have often excluded the voices and contributions of women and people of color. This project seeks to change the conversation by diversifying carillon music and amplifying the stories of women who have been written out of history. This semester, our team is focused on several key goals: migrating the CarillonWomen.org website to a modern ArcGIS StoryMaps platform, backing up all website data to a digital archive, documenting newly acquired primary sources, and finding new ways to highlight the lives of women who broke barriers in carillon history after 1950. Additionally, we are sharing our work and stories on social media and designing visual outreach materials to enhance the accessibility and visibility of these remarkable women in carillon history. For my final presentation, I am creating a book that combines the interactive timeline of leading women carillonists since 1950, historical narratives, and both primary and secondary sources we’ve uncovered. In collaboration with my mentor and an international research team, we are also contributing our findings to open-access platforms to ensure these stories are preserved and shared widely. By combining digital tools, research, and creative storytelling, this project highlights underrepresented voices in carillon music while providing lasting resources that celebrate diversity and inspire meaningful change in public music culture.
