April 1, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jo Ann Lloyd
(805) 756-1511

Four Cal Poly Music Ensembles To Perform Open House Concert April 17

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- In keeping with this year's Cal Poly Open House
theme, “Spotlight: Cal Poly,” the Music Department will spotlight four
of its ensembles at the Open House Concert April 17.

The Cal Poly Symphony, PolyPhonics, the University Jazz Band #1 and the
Cal Poly Wind Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. in Harman Hall in the
Performing Arts Center.

The Cal Poly Symphony (formerly the Chamber Orchestra), under the baton
of Music Professor Clifton Swanson, will perform the Prelude to “Die
Meistersinger,” by Richard Wagner. The overture is considered one of
Wagner’s most popular works and was chosen for the Open House concert
because it demonstrates the depth and breadth of the orchestra, Swanson
said.

The Cal Poly Symphony Orchestra is known for its versatility in
performing music written for both the large and small orchestra, from
baroque to contemporary.

PolyPhonics, a 40-member chamber ensemble directed by Music Professor
Thomas Davies, will perform a range of musical works, from Renaissance
to contemporary. Cal Poly's premier choral group, PolyPhonics tours
every year and performs frequently with local instrumental ensembles.

The University Jazz Band #1, directed by Music Professor Paul Rinzler,
will play “Caught a Touch of Your Love,” as recorded by Count Basie and
Diane Schur, “Para Ti Latino” by Spyro Gyra, arranged by Roger Myers,
and “Amlak Abet Abet” (“Oh God, Oh God”), by Teshome Sissay, arranged by
the Either/Orchestra, adapted by Rinzler.

“The University Jazz Band #1 combines the professionalism of a working
big band with the academic rigor of cutting-edge big-band repertoire,”
Rinzler said. The group has performed at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee --
the world’s largest jazz festival -- the San Jose Jazz Society’s Sunday
jazz series, and the Morro Bay Jazz Festival. This summer the band will
play a series of concerts in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, China.

The Open House concert will conclude with the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble,
conducted by Music Professor William Johnson, performing Donald
Grantham’s “J.S. Dances,” Rolf Rudin’s
“Bacchanale” and Stephen Melillo’s “In a Cause Called Glorious.” The
Wind Ensemble will also perform Robert W. Smith’s “Twelve Seconds to the
Moon,” with the composer conducting. The Cal Poly Wind Ensemble performs
music written for the modern wind band.

“The ensemble enjoys a national as well as international reputation for
musical excellence,” Johnson said. “The group has performed in such
prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall; the Sydney Opera House; the Michael
Fowler Center in Wellington, New Zealand; Beethoven Hall in Tokyo; and
at various concert halls in Europe.”

Although the concert will take place during Cal Poly’s busy Open House
weekend, ample parking will be available.

Tickets to the Open House Concert cost $5 to $15 and can be bought at
the Performing Arts Ticket Office 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-2
p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call SLO-ARTS (756-2787); to order by
fax, dial 756-6088.

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 756-2406.

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