TicketsThe Michigan State University College of Music celebrates the enduring legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with its annual Happy Birthday, Mozart! concert on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., in Fairchild Theatre of the MSU Auditorium. A longtime patron favorite, the concert is part of the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series and remains one of the College’s most anticipated chamber music events each season.
Marking Mozart’s 270th birthday, the evening features celebrated works performed by MSU musicians, including the Sonata for Piano Four Hands in B-flat Major, the Quintet in E-flat Major for Piano and Winds, and the Serenade in C Minor for Winds. Together, these selections highlight the elegance and expressive depth of Mozart’s writing, as well as the remarkable range of instrumental combinations that define his chamber music.
Pianists Deborah Moriarty and Tamar Mikeladze will perform Mozart’s Sonata for Piano Four Hands as part of Happy Birthday, Mozart!.
“This program reflects the extraordinary breadth of Mozart’s repertoire,” said Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano and director of the West Circle Series. “There is such range and depth in his chamber works, and it is a pleasure to collaborate with MSU musicians to bring this music to life and to connect with audiences who value the intimacy and richness of this repertoire.”
Performers include MSU pianists Deborah Moriarty and Tamar Mikeladze; clarinetists Guy Yehuda, Tasha Warren, and Minghze Wang; oboists John DeBiase and Nermis Mieses; bassoonists Michael Kroth and Sierra Watson; and horn players Alex Delperdang and Corbin Wagner.
As is tradition, the concert concludes with birthday cookies for the audience—an informal and inviting way to mark Mozart’s birthday.
Earlier concerts in the series featured Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and the music of Beethoven. Following Happy Birthday, Mozart!, the series concludes on April 13 with an anniversary celebration, USA at 250 Years, highlighting composers who helped shape American music and the nation’s cultural identity.
The Happy Birthday, Mozart! concert is generously sponsored by Dr. Robert W. Uphaus and Dr. Lois M. Rosen, and Linn Van Dyne and Mike Knox. The Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series is underwritten by Joanne and Bill Church.
Tickets: Reserved seating tickets purchased at the door are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors (age 60+), and $9 for students and those under 18 with valid ID. Tickets may also be purchased online at music.msu.edu/events or by calling (517) 353-5340; tickets purchased online or by phone include a $1.50 processing fee.
