Bear Hugs Bells Are Ringing for This Veteran Chimesmaster The group’s advisor for nearly a quarter-century, Jennifer Courtley Lory-Moran ’96, MAT ’97, recently marked a carillon milestone “Bear Hugs” celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at cornellians@cornell.edu! By Melissa Newcomb On a Friday evening in October, Jennifer Courtley Lory-Moran ’96, MAT ’97, checks the clock; she still has a few minutes before her performance begins. She sets out the sheet music for her first song—“Marzipan” from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite—on the stand above the keyboard. Then, just after the hour strikes six, she begins to serenade her audience—which comprises everyone on East Hill who’s within earshot of McGraw Tower. It’s just one of the hundreds of concerts that Lory-Moran has played from this perch, far above Cayuga’s waters. In costume as the ghost of Jennie McGraw in 1995. A chimesmaster since her first year on the Hill, she has long served as the program’s advisor. “Jen is the heartbeat of the Cornell Chimes,” says fellow chimesmaster Gretchen Ryan ’97. “She is dedicated and thoughtful—and, in my opinion, our most talented musician.” In June 2024, Lory-Moran marked a major milestone in the chimes-playing world. She passed the months-long, multipart test—administered annually by the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America—that granted her membership in the organization’s highest rank. “Chimes have given me a community, a sense of belonging, and a musical and physical outlet,” says Lory-Moran, a former math major who holds a master’s in teaching and works at a middle school in Ithaca. “And it all started with seeing a flier 30 years ago that said, ‘Do you want to learn to play the Chimes?’” Chimes have given me a community, a sense of belonging, and a musical and physical outlet. Lory-Moran noticed that flyer—advertising the auditions held annually for aspiring chimesmasters—her freshman year, having arrived on the Hill with experience on the piano, flute, oboe, and xylophone. About 50 applicants (known as “compets”) try out for the iconic role each year, but only a few are chosen. At the end of the 10-week process, Lory-Moran was selected—and she’s been performing nearly every week since. Baby on board: Playing a duet in 2002. “There are 161 stairs to the top of the tower,” she observes with a laugh, “and they haven’t gotten any easier.” And while the chimesmasters’ music may sound effortless as it echoes throughout campus, anyone who has viewed a performance in person knows that—in addition to the taxing upstairs commute—playing is a physical endeavor as well as an artistic one. As she plays on this particular Friday, she dances back and forth along the keyboard (known as a playing stand) to reach the lever or pedal that controls each of the 21 bells. Sometimes, she balances on one foot while tapping with the other; she finds small pauses to gracefully flip to the next sheet of music. The advisor to the Chimes program since 2000, Lory-Moran mentors both the compets and the chimesmasters, as well as composing and arranging music. There are 161 stairs to the top of the tower—and they haven’t gotten any easier. “She has helped me with so many aspects of my technique,” says CALS student Ben Isaacson ’27, who was named a chimesmaster in spring 2024. “Jen has shared her knowledge with so many people, and her enthusiasm is infectious.” Amrhen Ortega ’15 recalls once rushing the timing while playing a duet with Lory-Moran—but the Chimes advisor was able to adapt so deftly that most listeners wouldn’t have known the difference. Playing a concert with Ben Isaacson ’27. “Jen has been a guiding force for the Chimes,” Ortega observes. “She always encourages people to try new things. One thing I admire about her is that she has strong opinions, but she’ll always listen. And it’s so fun to watch her play, because she’s so physical—she gets really into it.” And Lory-Moran’s performances extend beyond Ithaca: she has played around the country and as far away as Belgium and the Netherlands. In the belfry of Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady in 2016. That’s because in addition to being a Big Red chimesmaster, Lory-Moran is a carillonneur: a musician who plays the carillon, an instrument comprising 23 or more bells. Her notable achievement in summer 2024 was passing the Carillonneur Examination, an eight-month process that requires (among other steps) receiving an endorsement from a teacher or mentor, submitting a recording, and playing a recital at the guild’s annual meeting. Hopefuls must perform from a prescribed selection of pieces that are both technically demanding and musically expressive. The final step in the application process is approval by a vote of the guild’s full membership. “It was very intense,” says Lory-Moran. “Once you become a chimesmaster, nobody is judging your playing anymore. “This was a personal challenge that I set for myself, and I’m proud to have accomplished it.” Checking out the 1998 renovation of McGraw Tower. (All vintage images provided; modern photos and video by Sreang Hok / Cornell University.) Published October 30, 2024 Comments Mary Courtley 30 Oct, 2024 That’s my girl! Congratulations on this most wonderful article offering an overview of your years playing this beautiful instrument as well as your tutelage and support of the chimesmasters for the past 25 years. You a make me so proud, Jennifer! Your Momma Reply Bob White 30 Oct, 2024 Congratulations my dear. What a great accomplishment. Beautiful presentation Reply Linda White 30 Oct, 2024 What a wonderful article! Congratulations ❣️ Reply Elaine Held 31 Oct, 2024 Brava, Jennifer! You play with such feeling, musicality, and movement of your body. Fascinating and enjoyable watching and listening to you. Ever onward, Jenn!! Elaine & Rich Held Reply Jon Vinograd, Class of 1968 5 Nov, 2024 There were and are so many parts of Cornell that appear to operate seamlessly without any apparent effort, or at least that is how I saw it in 1968. The bell tower was the one that guided my days going from lecture to library and back again to which I gave no thought and hurried on. How foolish of me. Thank you to all who did and continue to give their hours that use to mark mine. Jon Vinograd ‘68 Reply James H. Morey, Class of 1990 5 Nov, 2024 Nothing–anytime, anywhere–can beat hearing the Jennie McGraw Rag played from McGraw Tower. Great gifts from all the chimesmasters. Thank you. Reply Andrew Weber, Class of 1977 5 Nov, 2024 Does the loud sound affect your hearing? It looks so difficult to play since I am not a musician. Enjoyed the article and your dedication to your craft Reply Richard Haggard, Class of 1958 5 Nov, 2024 Great article, Jen, about your many accomplishments. I’m glad to know you, and occasionally have played duets with you, since you were a compet for Chimesmaster years ago. Your leadership of all of our Chimesmasters since then has made a real difference in our and their performances. And now, you’re a top carillonneur too, wow, after those years of study, visitations, practice, competition and performing. Congratulations. Dick Haggard, Chimesmaster, ’58 Reply Amy Hirshfeld Schultz (chimesmaster), Class of 1992 5 Nov, 2024 Congratulations, Jen! And thank you for all that you do for the Chimes program. It is really the heart of the Cornell campus experience. Reply Nancy Grambow Brown (Chimesmaster), Class of 1985 5 Nov, 2024 Congratulations, Jennifer on this personal achievement and thank you for your leadership and musicality with the Cornell Chimes. Reply John R Graybill 5 Nov, 2024 Walking down the hill on winter evenings, accompanied by the chimes, was a memory of beauty on the Cornell campus. I lived at Zeta Psi, then on Stewart Avenue. I now live in Texas, a place where winter is just an imagined event. The chimes are so intense that I have often wondered what they do to hearing? I do not recall any of the players wearing ear muffs. This ever so brief article leveraged my Cornell experiences back into my conscious thoughts. Thank you very much for it. Reply Fiona Lory-Moran 6 Nov, 2024 Go Mama! I love you so much! So proud of everything you’ve done. Reply Lane McClelland (Chimesmaster), Class of 1970 6 Nov, 2024 Go, Jen! Congratulations! Keep on keeping on! Reply Margot 10 Nov, 2024 What is the name of this piece of music and who is the composer? It is the tune used as the school song of one of my high schools. It was identified as part of the Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, but that does not seem correct. I enjoyed the article and the video of you playing the bells. I did not go to Cornell but lived in NYS as a teenager. Reply Bruce Esrig 12 Nov, 2024 The console at which the chimes are played is one floor down from the bells, which provides some protection for the chimesmasters’ ears. One day, I stood directly below the bells while they were being played at sunset, the sun peeking beneath the clouds. I might wear ear protection if I were ever to have that chance again. Reply Bill Russo, Class of 1971 13 Nov, 2024 Let the chimes ring out as long as Cornell lives! I was fortunate (and blessed) to have a chimes compet as my next-door neighbor in Sperry Hall (U Hall 6, RIP) in 1967-8, my freshman year. He shared his trials and tribulations along the grueling path to becoming a chimesmaster. And I climbed the 161 stairs that year and have returned many times since. We could count on the chimes being played on schedule 3 times a day, and hearing them outdoors always helped me to relax and enjoy the campus more. One summer, when my youngest daughter was 8, we were on campus for a noon concert, and the chimesmaster allowed her to play the hour chime “for the count”. I am even considering creating and teaching an introductory class on carillon history and practice for our local Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Dayton near our present home. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Alumni Online Archive Showcases Work of AAP Alumni Ask the Expert How’s the Hospitality Industry Doing? A Hotelie Weighs In Campus & Beyond Book Explores the Centuries-Old Influence of ‘Protestant Brooklyn’