Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble and Local Pros to Perform J. S. Bach in the Mission Jan. 22

SAN LUIS OBISPO – A cantata, a motet, and an orchestral suite—all by J. S. Bach—will be performed Saturday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m. in Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Cal Poly student musicians in the Early Music Ensemble will be joined by Cal Poly faculty and professionals from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

Early Music Ensemble Conductor Thomas Davies and Cal Poly Symphony Conductor David Arrivée will join forces for this concert.

Choral performers include:

· 14 members of the Early Music Ensemble

· Cal Poly professors Meredith Brammeier, Ken Habib and Susan Azaret Davies

· Westmont College (Santa Barbara) professors Grey Brothers and Michael Shasberger

· Jill Anderson (Cuesta College)

· Paul Osborne (San Luis Obispo High School choral director)

Instrumental performers include:

· Pam Dassenko (San Luis Obispo Symphony co-concertmaster)

· Students from the Cal Poly Symphony

· Cal Poly faculty members Paul Severtson, violin (co-concertmaster of the San Luis Obispo Symphony); Jeanne Shumway, cello; Lisa Nauful, bassoon; and David Hennessee, viola

· Los Angeles oboist Paul Sherman

“This is an incredible opportunity for our talented Cal Poly students to sit next to area professional musicians and make music at a very high level,” said Davies, who will conduct the performance.

Arrivée will share his vast experience and knowledge as the harpsichordist (continuo player).

The works to be performed are all from Bach’s early years. The cantata, “Aus der Tiefen rufe, Herr, zu dir (Out of the depths I cry to Thee, oh Lord),” and the motet, “Ich lasse dich nicht (I’ll not let Thee go),” were composed around 1708, when Bach was living and working in Mühlhausen. The “Orchestral Suite in C Major,” BWV 1066, is believed to be from his time in Cöthen (1718-1723), around the time of the “Brandenberg Concertos.”

Tickets – $12 for the public and $8 for seniors and students – are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends. To order online, visit www.pacslo.org; by phone, call SLO-ARTS (805-756-2787); or by fax, dial 805-756-6088. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the night of the concert.

Patrons who buy season tickets to four Music Department events through the Performing Arts Ticket office will receive a 10 percent discount; a 15 percent discount is given to those who buy 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.

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