Academy carillon to ring July 4

MERCERSBURG - For the 10th year at exactly 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July, Mercersburg Academy will join other schools, colleges, government institutions, as well as all commissioned ships of the US Navy, in the National Bell Ringing Ceremony. Bells all over America will ring at this time. The event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution and is coordinated in part by former Academy history teacher and current Library Assistant, Henry A. Kittredge, who is a member of the Sons.

Resident carillonneur, former faculty member, and Director of Music, James W. Smith will play mostly patriotic music and hymns as arranged by his predecessor, Bryan Barker who served the Academy for 53 years. There will be seating in the Chapel if the weather is inclement. Visitors are always invited up into the tower to watch the concert and see the bells.

James W. Smith graduated with both bachelors and masters degrees from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and began a teaching career at St. Mark's School of Texas in 1963. He came to Mercersburg Academy as an organist and choirmaster in 1965.