Mary Bichner is an American orchestral composer with synesthesia — a neurological condition that allows her to “see” splashes of specific colors when she hears their corresponding pitches sounded.
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Coming In 2026: New Composition for the Carillon at Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester, MA, USA
September 8, 2025
( Image credit: Photo of Our Lady of Good Voyage's carillon bell tower by Wes Cipolla for The Boston Pilot )
Orchestral composer Mary Bichner is delighted to be creating a new musical work for carillon, which will be customized for the 31-bell carillon found at the church of Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.
A carillon is a rare instrument in which a series of large tuned bells are played via a keyboard-like console, featuring both wooden levers and pedals. There are only 170 non-automated carillons in the United States, and the carillon maintained by Our Lady of Good Voyage is one of the oldest in the country.
The new musical work is currently being composed by Mary, and will be premiered at Our Lady of Good Voyage sometime in the second half of 2026.
The Boston Pilot briefly mentioned the composition project in a recent article on Our Lady's carillon, available in both English and Spanish/Español:
"Prominent Boston-based composer Mary Bichner visited the carillonneurs on Aug. 15 to research a piece she plans to write for the instrument. The sound of the neighborhood carillon was the backdrop to her childhood in Philadelphia. Bichner has synesthesia, which causes her to perceive musical notes as colors and vice versa."
Thank you so much to carillonneurs LuAnn Pallazola and Cynthia Cafasso Donaldson, as well as Father Jim and Our Lady of Good Voyage, for this wonderful collaboration.
Please stay tuned for more updates, and wishing everyone a lovely autumn season until then!
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