Cal Poly hosts first-ever Cello Fest May 1-4
The Cal Poly Cello Ensemble.
Festival includes student, faculty recitals and guest artist performances
– The Cal Poly Music Department will host its first-ever Cello Fest from Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4, with performances and presentations across campus and at local venues. The festival will highlight the talent of Cal Poly’s student cellists, organized by faculty member and cellist Megan Chartier.
The event will feature a range of performances, including a student concerto, a junior recital, and the world premiere of a student composition by the Cal Poly Cello Ensemble. There will also be a faculty lecture-demonstration, a guest artist master class, and a faculty recital.
Aaron Kline and Megan Chartier present ‘Between the Notes’ lecture-demo
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 11:10 a.m.
Davidson Music Center, Room 218
Music Department faculty members Aaron Kline and Megan Chartier will discuss the composition and performance process for Kline’s “Sarabande in 7-8” for solo cello. The piece will be given its California premiere by Chartier on May 4. The lecture will explore the challenges of writing for solo cello and the evolution of a piece performed by multiple voices. The event is free, but parking permits are required.
Eric Sung leads cello master class
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Davidson Music Center, Room 218
Eric Sung, principal cellist for the San Francisco Ballet, will coach Cal Poly students on their performance. Sung, who has performed with various orchestras, including the San Francisco Opera and Los Angeles Philharmonic, has an extensive career as both a soloist and chamber musician. Admission is free, with a parking permit required.
Emiko Wong performs junior cello recital
Friday, May 2, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Davidson Music Center, Room 218
Music major Emiko Wong will perform a junior recital titled “Tides of Memory,” with faculty member Janet Joichi on piano. Wong will perform works by Alberto Ginastera, Robert Schumann, Philip Glass, and Samuel Barber. Wong is the principal cellist of the Cal Poly Symphony and was a recent winner of the Cal Poly Solo Competition. Admission is free, with parking permits required.
Cal Poly Cello Ensemble presents ‘Cello Romanza’
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 2 p.m.
San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church
The Cal Poly Cello Ensemble will perform a wide range of genres and composers in its first full-length concert. The program will feature works by Gioachino Rossini, Johannes Brahms, and Edward Elgar, as well as the world premiere of “Tiris,” composed by Cal Poly student Noah Bettelheim. The concert will also include arrangements of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Admission is free.
Megan Chartier presents faculty recital ‘In Search of Light’
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 2 p.m.
Temple Ner Shalom
Cal Poly faculty member Megan Chartier will perform a solo cello recital with works by Aaro Kline, Ernst Bloch, Rudolf Matz, and Max Reger. Chartier, principal cellist of Opera San Luis Obispo since 2021, is known for her expressive performances. The recital is free to attend.
T.J. Borden and Mari Kawamura perform Morton Feldman
Sunday, May 11, 2025, 6 p.m.
Davidson Music Center, Room 218
Cellist T.J. Borden and pianist Mari Kawamura will present Morton Feldman’s “Patterns in a Chromatic Field” (1981), described by Pitchfork Magazine as “infinitely nuanced.” The performance will explore the piece’s interpretation, focusing on ambiguity and its manifestations across different contexts. Admission is free.
All events are free with parking permits required for on-campus events.
