It's the luck of the Lions that world-renowned Irish flutist Sir James Galway is returning to State College this evening.

Tonight's event will feature an all-Mozart program in honor of the 250th Anniversary of Mozart's birth.

This is Galway's first concert in State College since 1994, and he will be conducting the Polish Chamber Orchestra. Galway and his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway, will also perform as soloists.

"It is very lucky for students and the community that State College is one of the 22 cities that they will be performing in," said Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director for the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State.

Galway was born in Belfast, Ireland, and has been playing the flute for more than 50 years. In that time, he has made more than 60 recordings, selling more than 30 million records. On his most recent album, Ich war ein Berliner, he plays with the Berlin Philharmonic.

Galway, who has been conducting for 25 years, said playing an instrument is not the same as conducting an ensemble. "When you're playing, you interpret the solo part," he said. "When you're conducting, you interpret the whole thing."

Galway has received many prestigious awards, but he said his greatest honor was receiving knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2001 for his services to music.

"James Galway is a superb flutist with a breadth of repertoire that is exceptionally wide-ranging," Eleanor Armstrong, professor of flute in the School of Music, said. "He's a powerful and expressive player. In my opinion, Galway's interpretations are compelling and imaginative, and his command of the instrument is truly extraordinary."

Armstrong will be moderating a pre-concert conversation called "Artistic Viewpoints." The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of Eisenhower Auditorium.

"It's a great chance to be up close and personal, and it's a great opportunity for classical music lovers," Sullivan said.

Any ticket holder who can come early will be able to ask questions and learn more about the program; however, seating is limited, and admission will be based on a first-come, first-served basis, Sullivan said.

"People can come and ask me anything they want. That's why I'm doing it," said Galway.

Galway said he is looking forward to coming back, although he wishes he had more time to address the students.

Lady Jeanne Galway is a successful soloist and an accomplished chamber musician. She has collaborated with many ensembles. She is the vice president of Flutewise, the registered charity in England that she and her husband started as an educational organization for young flute players. "The Galways truly care about music education, and they really give back," Sullivan said.

The Polish Chamber Orchestra is an independent orchestra which began in 1972 and moved from the pit to performing concert music soon after. It tours frequently and has won prizes at the Poznan Spring Festival and the Wiener Floetenuhr for its recordings of Mozart.