John Courter

John Courter (June 25, 1941 – June 21, 2010) was an American composer, organist, and carillonneur who served as a professor of music at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, from 1971 until his death on June 21, 2010.[1] A native of Lansing, Michigan, Courter earned a bachelor's degree in choral music education from Michigan State University in 1962 and a Master's of Music degree in organ in 1966 from the University of Michigan.[2] He also studied at the North German Organ Academy and held diplomas from the Netherlands Carillon School.[3]

Courter was active both as a performer and composer and was considered one of the leading contemporary composers for the carillon, having won several international prizes with his original carillon compositions.[4][5] Courter also served on the World Carillon Federation Keyboard Committee, an international keyboard committee, which drafted a recommendation for the technical norms for a world standard carillon keyboard that was accepted by the World Carillon Federation in 2006.[6]

Courter's carillon works have been published in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States as well as performed on carillons throughout the world, and he has composed more than 20 pieces for the carillon,[7] including In Memoriam (2001) which is dedicated to those whose lives were lost in the September 11 attacks.[8] Both the associate carillonneur exam as well as the more advanced carillonneur exam administered by the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America have included Courter's compositions.[9][10]

Mr. Courter's carillon performances and compositions have received numerous honors. In 1993, Mr. Courter was awarded the prestigious Berkeley Medal for Distinguished Service to the Carillon as a performer and composer.[11] Courter has also been awarded the permanent title of honorary member by the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.[12] In 2010, the largest carillon in the state of Kentucky, Berea College's 56-bell carillon, was renamed to honor John Courter.[13] Courter's carillon compositions continue to be played after his death.

References
  1. "John Courter, 68". Richmond Register. June 23, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  2. Music at Michigan. UM Libraries. 1994. pp. 3–. UOM:39015035650665.
  3. "John Courter, Berea College Organist, Carillonneur and retired Professor of Music, dies". June 22, 2010.
  4. Buckner, Jay; Sowell, Julie (June 15, 2010). "International Convention of Carillonneurs Features Compositions by Carillonneur John Courter". BC Now!. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  5. "Yale performance, John Courter". Archived from the original on July 26, 2014.
  6. Courter, John; Janssens, Liesbeth; Hurd, Timothy; Macoska, Patrick; Oldenbeuving, Gert; Wely, Bob van (2006). WCF Keyboard 2006: Consensus on technical norms for a world standard carillon keyboard (PDF) (Report). World Carillon Federation. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  7. World Carrilon Federation, Sheet Music, http://www.carillon.org/eng/fs_muziek.htm
  8. John Courter, September 15, 2001, In Memoriam, http://www.carillon.org/pdf/InMemoriamCmin.pdf
  9. "Associate Carillonneur Exam". Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  10. "Carillonneur Exam". Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  11. McDonald, Andy (June 22, 2010). "Chimes Silent After John Courter Passes Away". KY News. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  12. John Courter Obituary, Lansing State Journal, June 25, 2010, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lsj/obituary.aspx?n=john-courter&pid=143744579
  13. "Berea College to Rename Carillon after John Courter". November 13, 2010.
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