Anton Brees the Carillonneur for the world famous Bok Singing Tower since 1928, was found dead in his apartment shortly after 3p.m. Tuesday. (March 6,1967).
Mr.Brees, age 69, had failed to appear at the Mountain Lake Sanctuary for his daily 3p.m. recital. Police were called to the apartment when Ralph Harwell, an employee at the Mountain Lake Sanctuary, found the body.
Police say they found lights burning at the apartment and believe Mr.Brees had passed away sometime during Monday night. Mr. Brees lived alone.
His death was listed as natural causes.
Mr.Brees was born in Antwerp, Belgium on Sept 14,1897. His father has been Carillonneur at the Notre Dame Cathedril in Antwerp for 50 years.
Mr.Brees was cited as one of the worlds leading carillonneurs, he first came to the United States in 1924, appearing as a guest artist at several recitals before going to England.
After a short stay in England, Mr.Brees returned to America where he was invited by John D.Rockefeller to serve as carillonneur at the Church in N.Y., Mr.Brees however,disliked the sound of the Carillon Bells in large cities and soon moved to Pennsylvania where he met Edward W.Bok , a noted philanthopist ,and accepted Bok's offer to serve as bellmaster at the Singing Tower, then under construction.
Brees was at the construction site while the tower was being built and was the tower's only official carillonneur since its dedication in 1929.
Mr.Brees became an American Citizen in 1932, and he had often expressed his love for the Singing Tower and the sound of the bells at the famous Wildlife Sanctuary.
Mr. Brees had only missed 2 recitals since the opening of the tower, and had been playing the carillonneur at Duke University.
Mr. Morrison, director of the Mountain Lake Sanctuary stated, the regular schedule of recitals would continue uninterrupted through the use of taped recordings made by Mr.Brees over the years.
( Anton Brees married Josephine S. Yarnell on May 21, 1935 in Polk County,Florida )

A Requiem Mass set for Mr. Anton Brees, Carillonneur, will be celebrated at 9a.m. Saturday at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Wales at the famed Singing Tower.
Rev. Thomas F. Kelly, pastor of the Holy Spirit Church will be celebrant.

Lakeland Ledger
Contributor: Terry Frank (47924148) • [email protected]

Anton Brees the Carillonneur for the world famous Bok Singing Tower since 1928, was found dead in his apartment shortly after 3p.m. Tuesday. (March 6,1967).
Mr.Brees, age 69, had failed to appear at the Mountain Lake Sanctuary for his daily 3p.m. recital. Police were called to the apartment when Ralph Harwell, an employee at the Mountain Lake Sanctuary, found the body.
Police say they found lights burning at the apartment and believe Mr.Brees had passed away sometime during Monday night. Mr. Brees lived alone.
His death was listed as natural causes.
Mr.Brees was born in Antwerp, Belgium on Sept 14,1897. His father has been Carillonneur at the Notre Dame Cathedril in Antwerp for 50 years.
Mr.Brees was cited as one of the worlds leading carillonneurs, he first came to the United States in 1924, appearing as a guest artist at several recitals before going to England.
After a short stay in England, Mr.Brees returned to America where he was invited by John D.Rockefeller to serve as carillonneur at the Church in N.Y., Mr.Brees however,disliked the sound of the Carillon Bells in large cities and soon moved to Pennsylvania where he met Edward W.Bok , a noted philanthopist ,and accepted Bok's offer to serve as bellmaster at the Singing Tower, then under construction.
Brees was at the construction site while the tower was being built and was the tower's only official carillonneur since its dedication in 1929.
Mr.Brees became an American Citizen in 1932, and he had often expressed his love for the Singing Tower and the sound of the bells at the famous Wildlife Sanctuary.
Mr. Brees had only missed 2 recitals since the opening of the tower, and had been playing the carillonneur at Duke University.
Mr. Morrison, director of the Mountain Lake Sanctuary stated, the regular schedule of recitals would continue uninterrupted through the use of taped recordings made by Mr.Brees over the years.
( Anton Brees married Josephine S. Yarnell on May 21, 1935 in Polk County,Florida )

A Requiem Mass set for Mr. Anton Brees, Carillonneur, will be celebrated at 9a.m. Saturday at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Wales at the famed Singing Tower.
Rev. Thomas F. Kelly, pastor of the Holy Spirit Church will be celebrant.

Lakeland Ledger
Contributor: Terry Frank (47924148) • [email protected]