Great music like annual traditions is part of the repertoire at the Michigan State University College of Music. For more than a decade, the annual Happy Birthday Mozart! concert honors one of the world’s greatest composers and anchors the College’s esteemed Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series. This year’s celebration takes place on Monday, Jan. 30th, at 7:30 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre. Click here for tickets.

Throughout the history of the beloved concert, fabulous performances by MSU artists and guests have included some of Mozart’s best-known piano sonatas, chamber works and arias. Deborah Moriarty, who also serves as professor of piano and chair of the Keyboard Area at MSU, is the director of this popular annual event that welcomes patrons for birthday cookies after an inspirational concert.

“Mozart was not only a wonderful composer, but also a prodigy as a pianist. We are excited to feature a few of his many compositions for the piano,” said Moriarty. “In this program we progress from solo piano to piano four hands and conclude with the sonata for two pianos.”

Born January 27, 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is heralded the world over as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music, having applied a range of expression that creates a universal musical voice. Works include Sonata for Solo Piano in C Major, K.330; Sonata for Piano Four-hands in B-flat Major, K358; and Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448. MSU pianists taking the stage include Tamar Mikeladze, Deborah Moriarty, Derek Polischuk, and Eric Zuber.

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

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 Dr. and Mrs. Roy Meland for making the “Happy Birthday Mozart!” 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

The all-piano program for this event progressively explores Mozart’s music through solo piano, piano four-hands, and duo piano performances. Photo by Harley Seeley.

Part of the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series, “Happy Birthday, Mozart!” is an annual concert celebration, now in its 13th season. Graphic courtesy MSU College of Music.