West Circle Series Finale Presents “USA at 250 Years”
The Michigan State University College of Music concludes the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series with USA at 250 Years on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre of the MSU Auditorium.
Marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, the concert celebrates U.S. composers who have helped shape the country’s cultural identity through creativity, innovation, and a bold spirit of expression. The program brings together a range of familiar American music, presented through distinctive instrumental settings for solo piano, duo piano, violin and piano, and jazz ensemble.
Music by Leonard Bernstein, Amy Beach, Florence Price, and George Gershwin highlights the program.
Performances include music by George Gershwin, Amy Beach, Florence Price, and Leonard Bernstein, alongside iconic American songs reimagined through jazz ensemble arrangements and improvisation by the MSU Professors of Jazz. Together, the program highlights both the familiarity of these works and the variety of ways they can be experienced through different instrumental combinations.
“This program brings together a wide range of American music in a way that reflects both its history and its continued evolution,” said Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano and director of the West Circle Series “It’s especially meaningful to collaborate in these different settings, and it creates a special experience for our audiences as we share in a celebration of the composers and traditions that have shaped American music.”
The performance features musicians from the MSU College of Music, including pianists Deborah Moriarty, Zhihua Tang, and Ralph Votapek; violinist Yvonne Lam; and the MSU Professors of Jazz: Randy Napoleon, guitar; Xavier Davis, piano; Carmen Bradford, voice; Rodney Whitaker, bass; Randy Gelispie, drums; Erena Terakubo, tenor saxophone; Michael Dease, trombone; and Anthony Stanco, trumpet.
Generously sponsored by April Clobes and Glen Brough. The entire 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.
