Community members are invited to join the Michigan State University College of Music for an affordable, musical season packed with variety, exceptional talent, and world-class performances in state-of-the-art venues on the campus of MSU.
“Encore!” 2022-23 features a full slate of live performances including some of the college’s most beloved and recognizable series and events. Popular annual series are the MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series, the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series, the Ken and Sandy Beall Cello Plus Chamber Music Festival and the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series. Awe-inspiring events include two fully staged operas, as well as new and early music ensembles. Jazz aficionados will relish the MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artist in Residence program in addition to fan-favorite seasonal events, capped by the yearly Jazz Spectacular in the spring.
A range of orchestral and band performances return as college mainstays, anchored by the talents of student artists and expert conductors in large and small ensembles. Music lovers will be energized by faculty and guest performers stepping onto campus stages through the Artist-faculty Recital Series sponsored by WKAR. General admission recitals and performances are offered across all College of Music venues, adding to the budget-friendly, accessible tone of the season.
“Audience members truly help bring music alive with an energy that will add to the wide variety of events we bring to our community,” said James Forger, dean of the College of Music. “We are eager to welcome everyone back, invite more community members to experience a College of Music event and build on the family of musical patrons who make this all possible. We encourage everyone to try something new as we showcase musical artistry that enhances our quality of life.”
“Encore!” runs September through May. More than 120 ticketed events are available, featuring 66 guest musicians and artist-faculty, and 21 ensembles with more than 600 MSU student artists. Events take place at Fairchild Theatre, the Cobb Great Hall in Wharton Center, and at intimately scaled Cook Recital Hall, Murray Hall, and Hollander Hall. This is also the first full music season with the new Létourneau “Opus 134” custom-made pipe organ in the recently renovated MSU Alumni Memorial Chapel available for performances.
Tickets to the full “Encore!” season of events are available to the public and go on sale starting August 25.
A listing of these events can be found online at music.msu.edu/encore-season.
Season highlights: 2022–2023 event series
Performances listed below are reserved-seat events at the MSU Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre unless otherwise noted.
MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series
- Telling the Story: Christmas Oratorios by Bach & Saint-Saëns, Saturday, Dec. 10, 8 p.m., Wharton Center
- A Jazzy Little Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.
- Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition, Saturday, April 1, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.
- Piano Monster, Sunday, May 14, 3 p.m.
Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series
- The Best of the Baroque, Monday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.
- The Beauty of Brahms, Monday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
- Happy Birthday, Mozart! Monday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.
- All American, Monday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.
Taylor Johnston Early Music Series
- The Baltimore Consort, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.
- Jean Rondeau, harpsichord, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
- Artifex Consort, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.
Ken and Sandy Beall Cello Plus Chamber Music Festival
- Dialogues, Monday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. Alumni Memorial Chapel
- The A, B and C of Baroque, Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
- Romance in the Air, Friday, April 14, 8:00 p.m., Cook Recital Hall
Worthington Family Foundation Opera Theatre Season
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: La Finta Giardiniera
- Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 20, 3 p.m.
- A Celebration of the Beautiful Voice, Sunday, Feb. 19, 3:00 p.m.
- Giuseppe Verdi: Falstaff, Wednesday, March 22, 7 p.m.; Friday, March 24, 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 26, 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 26, 3 p.m.
MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artists in Residence
- Carmen Bradford, jazz voice, Friday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.
- Adrian Mears, trombone, Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.
- Bruce Forman, guitar, Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m.
- Camille Thurman, saxophone, Friday, March 3, 8 p.m.
Annual Jazz Spectacular Series
- Jazz Spectacular Finale Concert, Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m.
- General admission events: Jazz Octets, Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.; Swing Dance, Friday, April 21, 8 p.m. Murray Hall
This story originally appeared on the College of Music website.
