The Michigan State University Beaumont Memorial Tower in East Lansing is centrally located on campus in an open, wooded park ideal for carillon concerts. With funds donated by John W. and Alice Beaumont, the tower, with a ten-bell chime, was constructed in 1929. Gradually the chime was expanded to a 47-bell carillon, and in 1996 a major reconstruction with 20 replacement and two new bells resulted in the current 49-bell concert carillon. The Muelder Summer Carillon Recital series, now presented on five to six consecutive Wednesdays in July and August at 6:00 p.m., was started in 1996 through the generosity of faculty member and administrator Milton Muelder.

Margo Halsted was the formal consultant on the reconstruction project and served as MSU’s visiting university carillonneur from 1996 to 1997. Her student Ray McLellan held the position of university carillonneur until his untimely passing in April 2021. Jonathan Lehrer started as the new university carillonist in August 2022.

The bells are pitched from C3 to D7, absent two bass notes, although they transpose up one whole step from their keyboard position (lowest bell keyed at B-flat).