As part of the 2024 UCSB Summer Carillon Recital Series, Junrui Liu (UCSB Student Carillonist), Iris Yuh (UCSB Student Carillonist, Class of 2024), and Wesley Arai (UCSB University Carillonist) will present a recital from the carillon in UCSB’s Storke Tower on Sunday, September 8th at 2:00pm. Selections will include solo works and duets, covering a wide range of original works for carillon and arrangements of well-known classical and popular tunes. Listeners are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on the grass outside the tower during the recital.

Junrui Liu is a rising fourth-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. Junrui has studied the carillon for one year.

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 has been involved in student organizations such as Environmental Affairs Board, Alpha Sigma Kappa, and TASA. In her free time, she enjoys reading, biking, cooking, going on nature walks, and playing cards with her friends. Iris has studied the carillon for one year.

Wesley Arai was appointed Lecturer and University Carillonist at UCSB in 2018. He plays the 61-bell Storke Tower carillon regularly and teaches carillon to UCSB students. Arai studied carillon with Jeff Davis as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received BA degrees in Mathematics and Statistics. While earning an MA degree in Mathematics at UCLA, he continued to play the carillon and subsequently passed the Carillonneur examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. Arai then served as Associate Carillonist at the University of California, Berkeley. An active recitalist, Arai has performed extensively across the United States and abroad. Most recently, he has performed in Europe and in Australia, gave the dedicatory recital for the carillon at the University of Washington, and performed at the Ninth Berkeley Carillon Festival and at multiple Congresses of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. Arai is also an annual recitalist at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Washington and is a frequent recitalist at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California.