The Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra celebrates Mozart's birthday at 3 p.m. Sunday at the School of Music Recital Hall with a concert of the composer's best-loved pieces.

Joining the PCCO -- which already includes several PSU students -- are four guests from Penn State's School of Music faculty: piano soloist Steven Smith, soprano Susan Boardman, tenor Richard Kennedy and baritone Norman Spivey.

Mozart's Birthday Concert includes music from "Little G Symphony," Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Piano Concerto No. 19 and arias from The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro.

"Mozart is often considered the greatest musical genius that ever lived," said PCCO Conductor Douglas Meyer. "For this performance we tried to include a variety of his music. There are two of his most famous operas . . . his famous serenade that's just for strings, and especially a piano concerto. Mozart created more piano concertos than any other composer -- when Mozart did concerts, that was his way of connecting with the audience."

Smith described Mozart's piano concertos as being a conversation between the piano and the orchestra, adding that an element of contest often emerges.

"Mozart had a wonderful combination of perfect simplicity and great craft," Smith added. "Simplicity as in melodic line -- and his craft is everywhere in his music. He's as sophisticated an artist as Raphael and da Vinci are in painting and just as driven."

And while Mozart may be best known for his instrumental music, the PCCO specifically includes pieces from two of his operas: "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja" and "Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton" from The Magic Flute and "Dove Sono" from The Marriage of Figaro.

Spivey, singing baritone in "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja," said in an e-mail that Mozart "began writing vocal music at a very early age and continued writing it throughout his life -- writing many of the most wonderful operas in the repertoire. He uses the voice not only as an instrument, but also as a means of communicating and expressing text. The dramatic situation and the specific words are crafted beautifully in his music."

All three singers in Sunday's performance have been guests of PCCO before, Spivey said, adding, "PCCO does a great job of regularly featuring local professional musicians. There is a wonderful rapport there."

The PCCO has performed a concert celebrating Mozart's birthday for the past four years, said Meyer, and the orchestra continues to believe in its importance.

"I think his music is really attractive to a lot of people -- very accessible, very tuneful," he continued, "and in his short life he produced more masterpieces than any other musician . . . Many people put him at the top of the list."

Spivey echoed that opinion, saying that "we all feel blessed to have his music with us, and honoring him in a special concert like this is a wonderful way of paying homage and celebrating his life and work."

Tickets for Mozart's Birthday Concert are $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens, $10 for students, and $6 for children and are available at the PCCO office at 119 S. Fraser St. between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays or by phone at 234-8313. Tickets are also available at Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Robert M. Sides Family Music Center. For additional information, visit www.pcco.org.