The 13th season of the College of Music’s beloved Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series begins with a musical celebration featuring the best of the Baroque era on Monday, October 17th at 7:30 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre.

Best of the Baroque will focus on the works of three composers—all born in 1685—who went on to become three of the most influential composers of the era. The evening’s program features the music of Georg Friedrich Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Domenico Scarlatti, celebrating the depth and breadth of Baroque music with performances that range from solo harpsichord to organ concerto, and concluding with choir and orchestra. Click here for tickets.

The concert will include Sonatas for Keyboard and Sonata for Solo and Continuo by Scarlatti, the Trio Sonata in G major by JS Bach, and Handel’s Concerto in F Major for Organ and Orchestra and Dixit Dominus. Featured artists are Nicola Canzano, harpsichord; Richard Sherman, flute; I-Fu Wang, violin; Hae Won Jang, organ; Melanie Walker and Paige Heidrich, sopranos; Natalie Sweeney, mezzo-soprano; student musicians with MSU Orchestras, and the University Chorale conducted by David Rayl.

“The College of Music is delighted to welcome new colleagues Nicola Canzano and Hae Won Jang. It is very exciting to add harpsichord and organ study to our keyboard offerings and even more exciting to be able to introduce these wonderful musicians to our West Circle Series audience,” said Deborah Moriarty, pianist and artistic director of the series. “The West Circle Series has become a treasured favorite of our music calendar through the enduring and generous support of Joanne and Bill Church. We invite you to join us in this opening concert of our 13th annual season.”

Additional upcoming West Circle Series Concerts in the 2022-23 season include:

• The Beauty of Brahms
  Monday, December 5th, 7:30 p.m., Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
  Generously sponsored by Mary and Patrick McPharlin. 
• Happy Birthday, Mozart!
  Monday, January 30th, 7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
  Generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Roy Meland.
• All American
  Monday, April 3rd, 7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
  Generously sponsored by Mike and Midge Morrow.

Joanne and Bill Church sponsor the West Circle Series. Special thanks to Trustee Emerita Dee Cook in memory of her husband Byron Cook for making the “Best of the Baroque” concert possible.

Reserved seating for this and other concerts in the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (age 60 and older), and $7 for students and those under 18 with valid ID, and can be purchased online (music.msu.edu), by calling (517) 353-5340, or at the door. More information on these and other events in the 2022-23 Encore! Season can be found at music.msu.edu/events.

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Press materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Photography and graphic downloads

This first concert of the season for the West Circle Series will feature a variety of performances that range from solo harpsichord to organ concerto and choir with orchestra.

The Best of the Baroque will celebrate the works of Georg Friedrich Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Domenico Scarlatti. Graphic courtesy of the MSU College of Music.