Students Junrui Liu, Julia Ong, Nan Raghuraman, Aiden Urschel, and Iris Yuh from UC Santa Barbara University Carillonist Wesley Arai's studio will present a recital from the carillon in UC Santa Barbara's Storke Tower on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 2 pm PT. Listeners are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on the grass outside the tower during the recital.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Junrui Liu is a third-year computer science PhD student from Changsha, China. His main instrument is the organ if he chances upon one to practice on, and piano otherwise. He took lessons for the former instrument in college, and has performed for recitals and services. Junrui became interested in the carillon for its fascinating sound signature and unique method of playing. When not practicing the carillon, Junrui researches designing programming languages and proving computer programs safe. If he still has time left, he also enjoys playing badminton or watching owarai. This is Junrui’s first year studying the carillon.  
Julia Ong is a fourth-year chemistry major in the College of Creative Studies and she is from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her main instrument is piano, which she has been playing for more than ten years and performed for recitals and charity concerts. Julia is studying carillon because she wants to explore instruments besides piano to continue her music studies. She is also interested in the history and repertoire of the carillon because it is a unique combination of bells and keyboard. Other musical instruments Julia plays include the recorder and the ukulele. She also enjoys tap dancing, reading fantasy fiction, and playing board games. Julia recently passed the Associate Carillonneur Examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and this is her third year studying the carillon.  
Nan Raghuraman is a fourth-year data science and statistics major and mathematics and music minor from the Bay Area. Nan has been playing piano since the age of 5 and played marimba throughout high school. She marched the 2022 season of Winter Guard International with Dark Sky Percussion on vibraphone. Her passion for keyboard instruments encouraged her to pursue the carillon, and this is now her second year studying the instrument. She is also part of the sitar ensemble at UC Santa Barbara and has found immense joy in learning classical Indian music. Outside of music, Nan has an interest in cooking and lampshade crafting.   
Aiden Urschel is a third-year Political Science major and German minor from Orange County. Aiden began playing the flute at the age of 8. It was 4 years later that he was invited to tour Germany and Austria with the Irvine Classical Players as the principal flutist. He has also participated in the SCSBOA wind ensemble, Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, and a variety of ensembles while studying instrumental music at the Orange County High School of the Arts. He now enters his first year studying carillon performance inspired by its grandeur, beauty, and extensive history. His non-musical interests include playing chess, rock climbing, and language learning.  
Iris Yuh is a fourth-year majoring in economics and environmental studies with a minor in music, and she is from the Bay Area. She has been taking piano lessons since she was 5, and has continued her lessons throughout her time at UCSB with Dr. Charles Asche. Throughout elementary to high school, Iris played cello in the Golden Gate Youth Orchestra and in school ensembles. Her passion for music inspired her to pursue not only piano in college but also carillon. Iris is fascinated by how the carillon operates and how its playing style both differs from and is similar to the way the piano is played, especially regarding the bells component, which inspired her to begin taking carillon lessons for the first time this quarter. On campus, she is involved in student organizations such as EAB, Alpha Sigma Kappa, and TASA. In her free time, she enjoys reading, biking, cooking, going on nature walks, and playing cards with her friends. This is Iris's first year studying the carillon. 

ABOUT THE STORKE TOWER CARILLON
UC Santa Barbara's Storke Tower and its carillon were a gift from Thomas Storke, former publisher of the Santa Barbara News-Press. The instrument consists of 61 bells cast by Petit & Fritsen of the Netherlands, with the bells weighing from 18 pounds to 2.5 tons, and spanning five octaves. The UCSB carillon is a much larger modern copy of historical instruments that were invented approximately 500 years ago in the Low Countries of Europe. Tower bells had previously been used for signaling time and for additional signals such as "Close the City Gates", "Go to church", and "An enemy is coming." Eventually, the number of bells was increased and were hooked up to a keyboard to facilitate the performance of music. A melody was often played to attract the attention of the townspeople before the hour bell tolled the time throughout the day. A carillon is played with the fists and feet, and the action is completely mechanical. To vary the dynamics of the music, the performer must strike the key harder or use a lighter touch, much like a piano. The UC Santa Barbara carillon celebrated its 50th birthday in 2019.