Elliott Tower

Donated by longtime supporters Hugh and Nancy Elliott, the Elliott Tower is a rallying point for student activities and creates a stunning visual centerpiece for Oakland’s campus.

The carillon plays the soundtrack to Oakland’s campus with the traditional Westminster Quarter chimes, along with live performances every Friday at noon and during special occasions.

Elliott Tower is the last carillon to have its bells and keyboard to be cast by the Petit and Fritsen Royal Bellfoundry in the Netherlands, which had been around since 1660. It features a fully chromatic 49-bell carillon. The largest bell is a low C, weighing around 5,000 pounds and measuring 5 feet in diameter, while the smallest bell is a high C, weighing in at only 24 pounds. The total weight of all bells is more than 30,000 pounds – that’s over 15 tons.

Six Fridays at 6 Concert Series

The Summer Carillon Concert Series is a series of outdoor concerts held on six Fridays at 6 p.m. with 6 different artists.

The free concerts bring international carillonneurs to Oakland University's Elliott Tower.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a relaxing evening listening to the sounds of the carillon's 49 fully-chromatic bells.

  • July 5 — Dennis Curry, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
  • July 12 — Gijsbert Kok, The Hague, The Netherlands
  • July 19 — Deborah Hennig, Stratford, Ontario, Canada
  • July 26 — Kayla Gunderson, Chicago
  • August 2 — David R. Hunsberger, The University of California, Berkeley
  • August 9 — Alan Bowman, Dayton, Ohio
Friday at Noon Concerts

Every Friday at noon, Oakland University’s carillonneur plays a live concert for a half-hour. The program is selected by Dennis Curry and will generally relate to to something happening on campus or in the world.

A Place to Learn

A practice carillon located in 103 O’Dowd Hall allows students to learn how to play the instrument. Contact Dennis Curry at [email protected].

Elliott Tower Celebrates 10 Years

A graphic of Elliott Tower with the words "Celebrating 10 Years" and "Elliott Tower Oakland University" beneath it

Groundbreaking: April 19, 2013
Dedicated:  September 19, 2014

About The Tower

Situated on a landscaped plaza which includes a water feature with programmable jets capable of sending water 60 feet upward, Elliott Tower stands as an icon on Oakland University’s campus. 

The limestone-and-brick arched Tower soars 151 feet above Oakland University. The playing cabin is situated at 67 feet. 

To be considered a “carillon”, the instrument must contain at least 23 cast bronze bells. Elliott Tower features a fully chromatic 49-bell carillon, each made of bronze and has the capability to play any musical compositions from arrangements of popular and classical music to original compositions created just for the carillon. The largest bell is a low C, weighing around 5,000 pounds and measuring 5 feet in diameter, while the smallest bell is a high C, weighing in at only 24 pounds. The total weight of all bells is more than 30,000 pounds – which totals over 15 tons.

A Legacy of Philanthropy

Donated by longtime supporters Hugh and Nancy Elliott, Elliott Tower is a rallying point for student activities and creates a stunning visual centerpiece for Oakland’s campus. 

The Elliott Tower realizes Hugh and Nancy Elliott’s dream for a central place where students can gather, study and relax on campus. The Elliott family’s deepest belief about philanthropy resounds from a quote cast into the Tower’s largest bell:

“The true net worth of a person is what he does for others.”

This philosophy is visible at Oakland University through Hugh and Nancy’s generous support of academics, athletics, capital projects, scholarships and endowments. Envisioned as a beacon welcoming all to campus, Nancy’s hope for the Tower was to create a new OU tradition with students saying, “Meet me at the Tower!”