The Carillonneur

SPRINGFIELD PARK DISTRICT ANNOUNCES THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW CARILLONNEUR FOR THE THOMAS REES MEMORIAL CARILLON

Through an extensive international search, the Springfield Park District along with the Rees Carillon Society are extremely excited to announce Robin Austin as the new Carillonneur for the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon.

Robin Austin has served as Princeton University’s carillonneur since 1993, playing weekly recitals, providing carillon instruction to University undergraduate and graduate students, and organizing the University’s Annual Summer Carillon Series.

He began his carillon studies with Frank Péchin Law, former carillonneur of the Washington Memorial Chapel in historic Valley Forge and passed the professional examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs in 1981. He continued his studies with Jacques Lannoy, director of The French Carillon School (Douai, France), earning the carillonneur’s diploma in 1982.

As a fundraising professional, Robin has also held a variety of leadership positions at Recording for the Blind, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and most recently served as senior principal gifts officer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A native of Pennsylvania, Robin earned a Bachelors of Arts from West Chester University and a Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College.

In his own words, “I am deeply honored to serve as Springfield’s new carillonneur and grateful to the Springfield Park District, the Rees Carillon Society and the community for the warm welcome. The Rees Memorial Carillon and the International Carillon Festival are world renowned. It is a great pleasure to succeed my esteemed colleague Karel Keldermans who has contributed so very much to the art of the carillon both in the United States and abroad.”

raustin@springfieldparks.org