All three Cal Poly Bands—the Mustang Marching Band, Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra—will present an energetic season opener.
Titled “Over Sky and Sea,” the concert is the first in a series that will culminate in summer 2026 with a tour to Europe. The music to be performed has been selected to represent compositions by composers from the U.S., and to introduce student musicians to the works from nations around the world.
The Wind Orchestra’s set will include “Second Suite in F” by Gustav Holst, a mainstay of wind band repertory; “Into the Clouds” by Richard Saucedo; and “Kentucky 1800” by Clare Grundman, a rhapsody based on three American folk songs.
The students of Wind Ensemble have chosen a program of five works, including “Aloft” by Stephen Bryant, “Danse Diabolíque” by Joseph Hellmesberger, and “Elixir” by Michael Markowsi. Jaromir Weinberger’s “Polka and Fugue from ‘Schwanda, the Bagpiper’” will incorporate the Forbes Pipe Organ played by music major Olga Arutyunyan.
The 220-member Mustang Band will close the concert with arrangements of popular music from this season’s field shows: “Marvel,” “Motown,” “Disney,” “Shrek,” as well as Cal Poly school songs that the group is performing for Cal Poly Athletics events.
The concert will be conducted by Director of Bands Christopher J. Woodruff and Associate Director of Bands Nicholas P. Waldron.
The event is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program.
