The Cal Poly Choirs will present “Songs of Joy and Remembrance” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church.
The concert, which will explore themes of celebration and memories, will be led by Meredith Brammeier and Julie Dana who are serving as acting choral directors this fall. Paul Woodring and Yukyung Hwang will accompany on piano.
Within the varied musical program, Cantabile will premiere Brammeier’s “Hark to the Wind of the World,” the University Singers will sing Paul Basler’s joyful and rhythmic “Alleluia” with Music Department Chair Alicia M. Doyle on horn, the Chamber Choir will perform “Dance, Dance My Heart” by Emma Lou Diemer which encourages dancing through life with abandon, and PolyPhonics will close the concert with Hans Bridger Heruth’s “Joy,” a reminder to view life through the lens of one’s childhood.
Brammeier is an award-winning composer, and her music has been performed across Europe and North America. A vocalist and pianist, she performs with the Cal Poly Bach Week Choir, Canzona Women’s Ensemble and the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale. She directed the Music Department’s music theory and musicianship programs for 25 years, and continues to teach courses in those areas.
Dana is Fresno City College professor emeritus. Her 42-year career as a choral educator at the high school and collegiate levels has been recognized by local, state and regional organizations. As the American Choral Directors Association Western Region president (2024–26), she coordinated the Western Region Conference in March 2026 in San Jose, California; and she currently serves as region past-president.
Woodring has been staff accompanist and music coach for the Music Department for more than 20 years, and is also Cal Poly’s university organist. He specialized in organ performance at Cal State Northridge, followed by organ and harpsichord studies in Vienna, Austria. As an accompanist, he has worked with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Los Angeles Opera Company among other well-known ensembles. He has worked locally with Opera San Luis Obispo, Festival Mozaic, Central Coast Youth Chorus, San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, Tolosa Strings and several musical theater organizations.
Hwang started working in the Music Department in August. She previously coached ensemble performance and taught keyboard studies at the University of North Dakota. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in keyboard performance from the University of Arizona, a Master of Music in collaborative piano from the University of South Dakota, and a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from China Conservatory of Music.
