To honor the Olmsted Bicentennial, the National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP), is sponsoring a carillon composition competition, Inspired by Olmsted. Carillonneurs around the world are encouraged to compose and then play compositions, inspired by Olmsted, throughout the 2022 anniversary year — especially at institutions with prominent Olmsted designs.

Announced in 2021, the competition invites compositions for the 48-bell carillon.

A distinguished jury — chaired by Edward Nassor, carillonneur for the Washington National Cathedral — will review and select the winning compositions, which will be made available on the Olmsted 200 and NAOP websites.

The debut will occur at the International Carillon Festival, at Bok Tower Gardens, a landscape by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. in Lake Wales, FL. Bok Tower’s Internationally renowned carillonneur Geert D’Hollander will play the world premiere during the opening recital, Wednesday, March 16, and the closing day. The competition will be live streamed, with concerts at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The International Carillon Festival is open to all visitors; registration is not required.

Winning pieces will also be debuted at the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. and Jackson Park in Chicago — as well as bell towers around the country. Additional venues and times will be coming soon.