On a chilly afternoon at the top of the Williams tower, Carol Jickling-Lens, the University of Denver’s carillonneur, played away at the stationary set of bells that hang in the tower. Every note was pressed on with graceful force as the bells rang a heavy tune. 

Carol Jickling-Lens began her career in 1966 at Christ Church Cranbrook in Michigan. Shortly after, she attended college at the University of Michigan to continue her studies. Since then, Jickling-Lens has played at a variety of prestigious events, such as a recital at the Palace of Amsterdam and on Old Bond Street where Princess Margaret was present.  

She has traveled around the world, playing the carillon for numerous ceremonies and occasions. She is even a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, having been a judge and served on the board of directors. In 2010, Jickling-Lens became the official University of Denver carillonneur.

Today, Jickling-Lens gives out lessons to students on campus. The class is structured as a 2-credit course. Students who want to take it require a musical background, as the private lessons are centered on learning the instrument instead of music theory. 

“Classes are available for people who want to take it. Students have taken it for one quarter and were so enamored with it that they want to pursue it for the rest of their career,” said Jickling-Lens.

The Carl M. Williams bell tower stands at 215 feet tall, overlooking the DU campus. Its iconic architecture has become a staple of DU’s identity. If you have ever been fortunate enough to be on the campus at the top of the hour, you would hear the chimes of the carillon booming throughout the university. When the sun goes down, the tower illuminates a bright yellowish-orange color, beaming through the night. 

The Williams Tower is one of two traditional carillons in the state of Colorado. It is regarded as the eighth-largest carillon in the world with 65 bells—the heaviest weighing in at six tons. Inside the tower, there is a spiral staircase that leads up to where the carillon is. On the route up, artwork and mosaics wrap around the interior. 

Jickling-Lens adores the tower as a work of art, and she wishes for everyone who goes to DU to see the tower once normal operations return. 

“I want people to know that we want everyone who goes to this university to experience the carillon and to see the bells up here. Everyone who goes here and who wants to should be able to see this tower. We’re very lucky to have such a beautiful instrument here,” she said. 

For more information about the tower and carillon lessons, contact Carol Jickling-Lens at carol.lens@du.edu.