Door County, Wis. (June 29, 2026) – Internationally acclaimed pianist Stewart Goodyear will return to the Peninsula Music Festival (PMF) at the Door County Auditorium in Fish Creek on Thursday, August 13, at 7:30 PM for An Evening with Mozart. His return will bring one of today’s most celebrated classical performers back to Door County by popular demand.
Hailed as “one of the best pianists of his generation” by The Philadelphia Inquirer and “a phenomenon” by the Los Angeles Times, Goodyear has earned international acclaim for performances that combine breathtaking technical brilliance with remarkable warmth and musical expression. His return to PMF is one of the most anticipated events of the 2026 season.
“Stewart has a remarkable ability to connect with audiences,” said Lisa Harper, President of PMF. “He is not only an extraordinary pianist, but an artist who makes every performance feel personal. Our audience has embraced him over the years, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Door County.”
Goodyear has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He is perhaps best known for his legendary “Sonatathon” performances, during which he performs all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas in a single day—a feat that has earned worldwide admiration for both his endurance and artistry.
The all-Mozart program opens with the overture to The Magic Flute, one of the composer’s most beloved operas, before Goodyear takes center stage for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Widely regarded as one of Mozart’s greatest concertos, the work is celebrated for its lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and sparkling finale. The evening concludes with Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, one of the composer’s final symphonic masterpieces.
“Stewart Goodyear brings an extraordinary combination of technical mastery and heartfelt musicianship to everything he performs,” said Rune Bergmann, Music Director and Conductor of PMF. “Mozart’s music demands elegance, clarity, and imagination, and Stewart possesses all of those qualities in abundance. His performances have an incredible ability to draw listeners into the music, whether they are lifelong concertgoers or attending their very first symphony.”
Goodyear’s performances have been praised by critics around the world. The New York Times described his playing as possessing “…pristine technique, abundant vitality, fascinating attention to detail and a composer’s grasp of overall structure.”
Whether returning after enjoying his previous PMF appearances or hearing him for the first time, audiences can expect an unforgettable evening celebrating one of history’s greatest composers performed by one of today’s finest pianists.
The Peninsula Music Festival’s 2026 season features nine concerts taking place at the Door County Auditorium from August 4 through August 22, bringing internationally renowned soloists, celebrated conductors, and the festival’s professional orchestra to Door County.
Tickets for An Evening with Mozart and the full 2026 Peninsula Music Festival season are on sale now at musicfestival.com.
TICKETS & INFORMATION
All performances take place at Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek as part of the nine-concert Peninsula Music Festival happening August 4–22, 2026. Tickets are available now at www.musicfestival.com or by calling the Peninsula Music Festival box office at (920) 854-4060.
About the Peninsula Music Festival
The Peninsula Music Festival is dedicated to bringing exceptional classical music performances to the community. Now in its 74th season, the festival continues to attract world-class musicians and enthusiastic audiences from around the region and beyond. Founded in 1953, the Peninsula Music Festival is one of the Midwest’s most treasured classical music traditions.
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