This year-long series marks the bicentenary of Beethoven’s death with seven concerts, seven world premieres, and more than 70 performers
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida State University College of Music and the Museum of Fine Arts will launch Beethoven2027@FSU: Shared Freedom with its opening concert, “Aria to Variations,” on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Curated by Dr. Qing Jiang, Associate Professor of Piano and Director of Collaborative Keyboard Arts, Beethoven2027@FSU: Shared Freedom is a year-long, seven-concert chamber music celebration honoring the bicentenary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death in 2027. The series features FSU students, faculty, alumni, and guest artists performing Beethoven’s chamber music alongside seven newly commissioned works by FSU composers.
The project centers on Beethoven’s violin sonatas, cello sonatas, variation sets, and songs while introducing the “Letter to Beethoven” commissioning initiative, which brings contemporary composers into dialogue with one of history’s most influential musical voices. Through themes of transformation, collaboration, humor, innovation, and artistic freedom, the series invites audiences to experience Beethoven not as a distant historical figure, but as a living creative force whose music continues to inspire new generations.
“Beethoven’s legacy is not only found in the masterpieces he left behind, but also in the spirit of creativity and exploration that continues to resonate with composers, performers, and audiences today,” said Jiang. “By presenting his works alongside newly commissioned pieces, we hope to celebrate the enduring relevance of his artistic vision while creating opportunities for new voices to engage with his legacy.”
The opening concert, “Aria to Variations,” explores Beethoven’s creative responses to Mozart and Handel, tracing how beloved operatic melodies and popular themes were transformed into brilliant instrumental variations. The program showcases the composer’s imagination and inventive approach to reworking familiar musical material through a series of performances by College of Music students, faculty, and alumni.
The evening concludes with the first world premiere in the “Letter to Beethoven” series: Justin Gruber’s Fugue in E Minor for Piano Four Hands, performed by pianists Cheng Chen and Shulin Cai.
Over the course of the season, Beethoven2027@FSU will feature:
- 7 concerts
- 6 venues
- 7 world premiere commissions
- 7 composers
- More than 70 performers, including students, faculty, alumni, and guest artists
Series Schedule
Concert I: Aria to Variations
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Museum of Fine Arts
Concert II: Shared Virtuosity
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Opperman Music Hall
Concert III: Beethoven’s Musical Playground
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, at 4 p.m.
Opperman Music Hall Mezzanine
Concert IV: A Countryside Lunch with Beethoven
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, at 12:30 p.m.
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall Lobby
Concert V: A Life in One Evening
Friday, Jan. 22, 2027, at 7:30 p.m.
Opperman Music Hall
Part of the Housewright Virtuoso Series
Concert VI: New Instruments, New Sounds
Wednesday, March 3, 2027, at 7:30 p.m.
Dohnányi Recital Hall
Concert VII: The Art of Fugue
Wednesday, March 24, 2027, at 6 p.m.
Beth Moor Lounge
Sponsored by the Florida State University College of Music and presented in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Beethoven2027@FSU celebrates Beethoven’s enduring influence while showcasing the creativity and artistry of FSU’s performers and composers.
All Beethoven2027@FSU performances are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit music.fsu.edu.
