Nov. 4, 2010

Contact: Michele Abba
Cal Poly Music Department

Cal Poly Choirs to Hold ‘A Christmas Celebration’ Dec. 4

SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly Choirs will present their annual holiday show, “A Christmas Celebration” on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. in Harman Hall of Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center.

The show will include a variety of music to ignite the holiday season, including performances by all of the Cal Poly vocal ensembles, conducted by music Professor Thomas Davies. University organist Paul Woodring will be featured on the Forbes Pipe Organ, and the Cal Poly Brass Ensemble, conducted by Christopher Woodruff, will perform. Woodring and Susan Azaret Davies will accompany the choirs.

PolyPhonics will present works by master composers Kenneth Leighton (“A Hymn of the Nativity”) and Arvo Pärt (“Magnificat”). The University Singers will offer Conrad Susa’s seasonal hit “Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest,” joined by Jennifer Sayre, harp, and Ross Sears, marimba.

With more than 100 singers combined, PolyPhonics and The University Singers will unite to perform works including “Caribbean Carol,” arranged by Roy Ringwald, and Hanukkah favorite, “S’Vivon,” arranged by Valerie Sheilds.

The Cal Poly Choirs are honored to again premiere a new work composed by music Professor Meredith Brammeier. “Noel” is written for choir, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba and tubular bells.

“The Cal Poly Brass Choir will swing like mistletoe over a breezy doorway with Bill Holcombe’s jazz setting of traditional carols ‘Christmas Jazz Suite,’” Woodruff said.

In addition to the large choirs, smaller groups including the Early Music Ensemble and Take It SLO will create a cameo of holiday treats. And the audience will have the opportunity to join in a carol sing-a-long.

The evening culminates in the traditional singing of Malcolm Sargent's arrangement of "Silent Night."

Tickets are $10 for students, $16 and $19 for seniors or $17 and $20 for general admission and 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. Saturdays. To order by phone, call SLO-ARTS (805-756-2787).

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 holiday concert is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406.

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