Feb. 24 2005
Contact: Jo Ann Lloyd
(805) 756-1511
Cal Poly Music Department
(805) 756-2607
Cal Poly Wind Orchestra, Wind Ensemble To Perform
'Symphonic Blockbusters' At March 12 Winter Concert
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- The Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble's Winter Concert will include works by Mozart and Bernstein at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, in Harman Hall in the Christopher Cohen Center at Cal Poly.
The concert, titled "Symphonic Blockbusters," will feature 120 members of the Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.
"The student-musicians will pull out all the stops and at this extraordinary event," said William Johnson, conductor. "The concert will begin with the stirring sounds of Mozart and end with Michael Daugherty's spectacular musical tribute to the famous Leopold Stokowski, conductor of Disney's "Fantasia" and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Some of the biggest symphonic blockbusters in all of wind band literature will also be performed."
Rudolfas Budginas, a music professor at Cuesta College and a staff member in Cal Poly's Music Department, will serve as guest conductor. Also a concert pianist and a recent graduate of the University of Southern California, Budginas will conduct the Wind Orchestra in Leonard Bernstein's "Overture to Candide" and Wolfgang Mozart's "Overture to Marriage of Figaro."
Additional musical highlights include the Wind Orchestra performing "Ride" by Samuel R. Hazo, "O Magnum Misterium" by Morten Lauridsen, "Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart, Overture to "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein, "The Isle of Calypso" and "Ithaca" both by Robert W. Smith.
The Wind Ensemble will play "American Overture" by Joseph W. Jenkins, "The Echo Never Fades" by David Gillingham, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach, "Mars" from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst, and "Bells for Stokowski" by Michael Daugherty.
"The Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble are wonderful combinations of stunning virtuosity, masterful programming and lighthearted fun," Johnson said. "These student musicians produce the full richness of a symphony orchestra, the intimacy of a chamber ensemble and the toe-tapping brilliance of a military band. Each concert blends informative commentary, outstanding musicianship and humor."
Tickets to the Symphonic Blockbusters concert are $7 to $16. Discounts are available when buying tickets to multiple Cal Poly Music Department events. To buy tickets, call 756-2787 (756-ARTS) or go online to www.pacslo.org. Orders can be faxed to 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 756-2607.
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