The Department of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Simone Browne as UC Berkeley's new University Carillonist. An accomplished performer who has toured worldwide, Browne has served as UC Berkeley’s interim carillonist—playing regular recitals, managing, and teaching in the Campanile studio—since the retirement of Jeff Davis in 2024.
The Department congratulates Simone on her appointment and looks forward to many afternoons of carillon performances in the years to come. Below, find a short bio on Simone detailing her extensive history of research on carillons and carillon performance.
Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Simone Browne originally fell in love with the carillon during her undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago. She holds both a licentiate carillonneur diploma with great distinction and a specialization certification from the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium. An active recitalist, she particularly enjoys playing original works for carillon and has performed on more than 90 carillons across Europe and North America. Her carillon research projects have investigated global contemporary carillon culture, carillon oral history in North America, and the emergence of carillons in Ukraine. Over the last two years, she has played regular recitals on the Sather Tower carillon and taught the carillon studio as Berkeley's Interim University Carillonist while finishing her law degree. She currently serves as the Director Vice President of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.
As a carillon performer, researcher, and instructor, Simone loves uncovering new perspectives within carillon culture and connecting with audiences and bell enthusiasts around the world. In her spare time, she enjoys reading literary fiction and learning languages.