Two members of the University of Chicago Guild of Carillonneurs at Rockefeller Chapel, fourth-year Maria Krunic and third-year Joseph Min, passed their professional certification exams this month with the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA). After preparing for the exam for the better part of a year, Maria and Joseph submitted recordings of their carillon playing as anonymous entrants to a jury of carillonneurs across the content. They are only two of five entrants this year to have passed the exam, and will be featured in this month’s virtual GCNA congress at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.
Maria Krunic is a fourth year in the College and is majoring in linguistics with minors in biology and chemistry. Both of her parents immigrated to America from Serbia and settled down in Chicago where she was raised. Maria has been playing piano for almost twelve years and is excited to spend her fourth year in the Guild mastering the carillon and playing her favorite songs. Apart from her musical endeavors, she also plays tennis and badminton, is a first responder on UCEMS, and swing dances to her favorite oldies at the Chicago Swing Dance Society.
Joseph Min is a third year in the College from New York. He studies music and architecture. Outside of the carillon, he does piano, audio design, composition, and architectural drawing. When not in class, he can be found in one of three places: Rockefeller Chapel, Reynolds Club, or the Logan Center for the Arts. In his free time, he likes to read, listen to music, play billiards, and study video game design.
Both Maria and Joseph study carillon under Joey Brink, and have been serenading the campus weekly with their carillon music throughout their time at the University.