All four choirs — Cantabile, Chamber Choir, PolyPhonics and University Singers — will collaborate with local music groups and other Cal Poly ensembles for the annual Holiday Kaleidoscope concert.
For the ninth consecutive year, the Cabrillo Madrigal Singers from Lompoc directed by Cal Poly alumnus Jennifer Peterson (Music, ’95) will be on the program.
The concert will also feature the San Luis Obispo High Choir under the direction of Rick Robbins, who is making his debut appearance as a conductor on the concert.
Each choir will perform a selection of music, as well as join with others for collaborative pieces.
A Cal Poly orchestra of 30 students and guests will perform with the choirs on several combined works, and accompany beloved carols for a singalong with the audience. Cal Poly’s popular a cappella groups Take it SLO and That’s the Key will combine to perform a jazz arrangement of a popular Christmas song.
The University Singers will sing a haunting arrangement of the medieval chant “Puer Natus Est” as well as a rousing arrangement of an Appalachian carol, “Star in the East.” Francis Truong, a senior music major, will conduct the choir for one of the pieces.
The Chamber Choir — while decked out in ugly holiday sweaters and other attire — will sing ancient and dramatic music. The group will perform a preview of its upcoming Bach Week repertory with Giacomo Carisimi’s “Plorate Filii” from the oratorio “Jepthe.” It will also perform Herbert Howells stunning “A Spotless Rose” and other selections.
Cantabile will combine with senior music major cellist Emiko Wong to present Sarah Quartel’s “Snow Angel,” a short multi-movement work with narration with vivid imagery and metaphors related to winter and angels.
PolyPhonics will present a variety of modern works including pieces by Moses Hogan, Ernest Bloch and Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds (including handbells!). They will also perform Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory’s rousing gospel piece “John the Revelator.”
The concert will close with the traditional performance of all the choirs singing “Silent Night” as arranged by Malcolm Sargent.
Scott Glysson will conduct the Cal Poly Choirs, and University Organist Paul Woodring will accompany the choirs on piano and organ.
The event is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program.
