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Cal Poly Bandfest: Over Sky and Sea
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Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center
All three Cal Poly Bands will perform for Cal Poly’s Bandfest! 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.
Cal Poly has a crowdfunding campaign through Oct. 31 to support the tour.
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.
Tickets ($17 and $22 general, $12 students)
Cal Poly Band Festival Finale Concert: Musical Journey Around the World
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Friday, March 13, 2026
7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center
The Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble will bring an exciting conclusion to the Band and Orchestra Festival as they continue their musical travels across the globe. Czechia, Japan and Spain will be the stops along this program, with Bin Kaneda’s "Japanese Folk Song Suite" and Gasper Cassadó’s "Toccata." Karel Husa’s monumental "Music for Prague 1968" will conclude the program.
Tickets ($17 and $22 general, $12 students)
Cal Poly Wind Bands Spring Concert: Journey Home
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Sunday, May 31, 2026
3 p.m., Performing Arts Center
The Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble conclude their season’s journey with a program of music by composers from here at home. The sonic landscapes of John Williams and Nicole Piunno have been student and audience favorites. The program will introduce a new work by Laura M. Kramer to honor the career of Cal Poly Director of Bands Emeritus William Johnson. The Wind Ensemble will conclude with John Mackey’s expansive tour-de-force "Wine-Dark Sea."
Tickets ($17 and $22 general, $12 students)