2017-2018 Season
FALL CONCERT: "Music from the New World"
Sunday, December 3, 3 p.m.
Harman Hall, Performing Arts Center
The Cal Poly Symphony explores two works that draw on America’s diverse musical traditions. The orchestra welcomes Jeff Midkiff, a nationally active soloist and composer, to perform his own Concerto for Mandolin and Orchestra, “From the Blue Ridge.” The concerto showcases bluegrass and jazz music, which Midkiff has played extensively, as well as the orchestra, which he knows intimately as an orchestral clarinetist.
The orchestra will also perform Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World,” which the composer wrote in America and which draws on music he considered uniquely American: everything from African-American spirituals and Native American music to music from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show and folk songs.
Repertoire:
Midkiff - Concerto for Mandolin and Orchestra, “From the Blue Ridge”
Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World”
WINTER CONCERT: "Student Soloists Showcase"
Friday, March 16, 8 p.m.
Harman Hall, Performing Arts Center
Every year, the Symphony holds auditions for student soloists of any major. The prize for several of them - a performance with the Symphony, of course! Come hear this year’s winners and celebrate musical talent from across the University.
The orchestra also welcomes Stockdale High School’s Symphony Orchestra as our guest ensemble. They will perform two works and play side-by-side with our string section in Vaughan-Williams’ lush “Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.”
The Cal Poly Symphony will conclude the concert with Rimsky-Korsakov’s colorful “Capriccio Espagnol.”
Repertoire:
Grøndahl - Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, Mvt. 1 (Tyler Stockton, trombone)
Barber - “Must the winter come so soon?” (Lauren Hartog, mezzo-soprano)
Lalo - Cello Concerto: Prelude-Lento-Allegro Maestoso (Titus Shanks, cello)
Guattali - Suite Retratos, No. 1 (L. Shaun Fairfield, guitar)
Rietz - Clarinet Concerto, op. 29, Adagio (Charlie Huang, clarinet)
Grieg - Piano Concerto, Mvt. 3 (Namjoon Joo, piano)
Stockdale Symphony Orchestra - Repertoire TBD
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol
TOUR: Los Angeles
Thursday evening, April 5 – Saturday afternoon, April 7
SPRING CONCERT: With Cal Poly Choirs
Sunday, June 3, 3 p.m.
Harman Hall, Performing Arts Center
Every two years, the Cal Poly Symphony and Cal Poly Choirs join forces to present masterworks of choral-orchestral literature. This year, we will be joined by Cal Poly's new Director of Choral Activities, Scott Glysson, who will conduct Maurice Duruflé's moving "Requiem."
Repertoire:
Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre
Ravel - Pavane pour une infante défunte
Ravel - Don Quichotte à Dulcinée
Ravel - Trois Chansons
Duruflé - Requiem