Spring 2005
Spring Concert 2005
Sunday, May 22 • 3:00 PM, PAC
Join the Cal Poly Symphony as it celebrates the talent of student soloists and the end of the season. The program begins and ends with Spanish influenced music written by non-Spaniards: Georges Bizet, a Frenchman, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, a Russian. The Symphony will perform selections from Bizet's Carmen and will conclude the concert with Rimsky-Korsakov's festive Capriccio Espagnol.
Three student soloists will be featured: Alex Kato-Willis, piano, will play the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23; Hannah Juul-Borre, soprano will sing Bach's "Erbarme dich, mein Gott" from the St. Matthew Passion, and Laura Zapata, soprano, will sing Schubert's "Gretchen am Spinnrade" as orchestrated by Liszt.
Alex Kato-Willis, piano
Alex Kato-Willis is a second year music major from San Luis Obispo. Alex studied piano with Ed Lowman from ages six until twelve. He then began lessons with Dr. William T. Spiller and continues with him today. Alex has played in many events for Cal Poly including the 2003-04 Fall Conference. He has also played at numerous fund-raisers for Cal Poly including the Centennial Campaign. Alex also plays in a piano trio with Kristin Harris, cello and Brittany Ridley, viola. Alex has been improvising in a classical style since he was six, and as an outgrowth of this interest, has become deeply interested in composition. He is currently studying with Dr. Meredith Brammeier and has composed over 40 pieces.
The San Luis Obispo musical community has been extraordinarily supportive of Alex, for which he is very grateful. He is especially thankful to Dr. Spiller for all of his instruction and guidance.
Hannah Juul-Borre, soprano
Hannah Juul-Borre is a second year social sciences major, minoring in music from Templeton, CA. Having grown up in a musical family, Hannah started singing as a young girl in front of church audiences accompanied by her father, Torsten. In high school, she sang in the concert and vocal jazz choirs under the direction of JoAnne Stoddard. She was a part of ACDA and CMEA Regional and All-State Honor Choirs for two years, and studied voice with Janice Vercouterre. Hannah performed with the Pacific Reparatory Opera as a chorus member last fall in Red Cloud. She has also played lead roles in Grease and Bye Bye Birdie. Currently, she studies voice with Jacalyn Kreitzer and is a soloist for local churches in the area including the United Methodist Church of Atascadero. She also sings in Cal Poly’s chamber choir PolyPhonics, and is the lead in Here Comes Treble, Cal Poly’s competing women’s barbershop quartet.
Laura Zapata, soprano
Laura Zapata is currently in her second year as a music major at Cal Poly. Although music has always been Laura’s passion, she would like to credit her Gilroy High School director, Phillip Robb, for inspiring her to choose music as a career. She would also like to thank Heidi Henderson for guiding her through the rigorous beginning stages of voice lessons and Jacalyn Kreitzer for taking her skills to a collegiate level. She hopes some day to become a professional chorale singer. She has had the opportunity of participating in Cal Poly’s University Singers under the direction of Dr. Thomas Davies and presently, PolyPhonics with Dr. Meredith Brammeier. Her sincere gratitude also goes out to family and friends for their never-ending support and God, for making things possible.