Choirs to Present Sixth Annual ‘Holiday Kaleidoscope’ on Dec. 2
Contact: Michele Abba
805-756-2406; mabba@calpoly.edu
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Choirs, which include Cantabile, Chamber Choir, PolyPhonics and University Singers, will present the sixth annual “Holiday Kaleidoscope” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center.
This year the Cal Poly Choirs will be joined by the Cabrillo High School Madrigal Singers, directed by Cal Poly alumna Jennifer Peterson (Music, ’95); and the Central Coast Youth Chorus’ Cadence Choir, led by Cal Poly music majors Danna Dumandan and Katelyn Caron.
Cal Poly Director of Choral Activities Scott Glysson established the concert in 2017 to showcase and celebrate Central Coast choral traditions and collaborations. The four university choirs and the two guest ensembles will each perform a short selection of repertoire and then will unite for some larger works.
A 20-piece student orchestra will accompany the choirs on several pieces and during carol sing-alongs. The evening will include other fun features, such as College of Liberal Arts Dean Philip J. Williams narrating “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
The Cal Poly Chamber Choir will perform Johannes Brahms’ choral masterpiece “Es ist Das Heil” from “Zwei Motetten,” and a setting of “El Niño de la Madre” by Cal Poly Professor Antonio G. Barata.
Cal Poly’s Cantabile will present a portion of the program it plans to perform at New York City’s world-famous Lincoln Center in March. Its set will include music by Sarah Quartel, Jacob Narverud and an arrangement of the Puerto Rican Christmas carol “Ábreme la Puerta.”
The University Singers will perform a variety of arrangements of familiar melodies in both English and Hebrew.
PolyPhonics will close the program with English, Latin, Spanish and Swedish songs, including a beautiful setting by Kevin Memley of the “O magnum mysterium” text, a modern work by Steven Hansen, titled “Vinterskymning,” and “La Navidad del Señor” by South American Baroque composer Juan de Araujo, which will be accompanied by Cal Poly Professor Emeritus Craig H. Russell on guitar.
Cal Poly University Organist Paul Woodring will accompany the choirs on piano and organ.
Tickets are $15 and $20 for the public, and $10 for students. Event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are available at the Cal Poly Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To order by phone, call 805-SLO-4TIX (805-756-4849).
The concert is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, visit the Music Department’s calendar website, email music@calpoly.edu or call 805-756-2406.
