Cal Poly Choirs Kick Off 2016-17 Season on Oct. 29

Cal Poly’s choral ensembles of 2016-17 will be introduced in a concert featuring various styles — from 18th century motets to folk songs and spirituals — at 8p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in the Performing Arts Center.

PolyPhonics, the University Singers and the Early Music Ensemble will present the “New Beginnings; New Horizons” fall concert, which begins conductor Thomas Davies’ final year as director of choral activities and vocal studies at Cal Poly. He and his wife, Susan, are in their 34th year of teaching at Cal Poly.

The 50-voice University Singers will open the program with “In Virtute Tua” (“In Thy Strength”) by Polish-born composer Grzegorz Gorczycki, who studied in Prague and
Vienna. The Israeli folk song “Erev Shel Shoshanim” (“Evening of Roses”) will follow, and the ensemble will conclude with Z. Randall Stroope’s “Sure on This Shining Night.”

In honor of Halloween, the 40-member PolyPhonics will perform Johannes Brahms’ “Nächtens” (“Nightly Visions”), Kurt Weill’s “Kiddush” and Morten Lauridsen’s “Dirait-on” (“So They Say”).

The Early Music Ensemble will present several madrigals, and all three ensembles will combine to present two well-loved spirituals, “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit” and “My Lord What a Mornin’.” The concert will close with Beethoven’s famous “Hallelujah” from “Mount of Olives.”

In addition to the choral ensembles, senior music majors Gabriela Crolla, Samantha Foulk, Kelly O’Shea, Chris Wall and Corey Hable will present works from their upcoming senior recitals.

The choirs and soloists will be accompanied by Susan Azaret Davies and Paul Woodring.

Tickets are $12 and $14 for the public and $9 and $12 for students. Pricing includes all Performing Arts Center fees, and event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. To order by phone, call SLO-4TIX (756-4849).

A 10 percent discount is given to patrons who buy season tickets to four Music Department events through the Cal Poly Ticket Office; a 15 percent discount is given on tickets to five or more events.

The concert is sponsored by Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts, Music Department, and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406 or visit music.calpoly.edu/calendar/.