Cal Poly Bands Centennial Celebration

Cal Poly Bands 1916–2016

CAL POLY BANDS CENTENNIAL This Cal Poly Bands Centennial booklet was made possible by the Iota Pi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Compiled and designed in part by Shelli Crispen, software engineering senior May 2016

CAL POLY MARCHING BAND The first band at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo — then called the California Polytechnic School — was started in 1916 by D. W. Schlosser. The band was modeled after the military-style bands of the time and was comprised only of men.

The marching band was run in a similar manner as high school bands are today: marching band in the fall and concert band during winter and spring. The pictures on this page show the beginnings of our great band in its various roles. These students were the first to establish the traditions and pride maintained by Cal Poly bands today.

1916–20 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1916–20

Through the late 1920s, the Cal Poly Band began transitioning from a military band to an all-around band program. In addition to having regular rehearsals, the band began performing at football games, school rallies and assemblies. Of course, they also performed for annual parades.

By 1930, the band had grown to 80 members. In October of that year, the band had its first major tour.

They traveled to Los Angeles to perform at a livestock show called the Christmas Fat Stock Show.

1916–20 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1930s

Unfortunately, the following year marked a sharp reversal as only 22 people were in the band. To help out, a handful of alumni usually played with them. Despite their size, the band frequently performed in the community and at school functions including Poly Royal, graduation ceremonies and at the Future Farmers Convention.

In 1936, college President Julian A. McPhee hired H.P. “Davy” Davidson to become the director of bands at Cal Poly. McPhee requested Davidson create two bands: a marching band and a dance orchestra.

Davidson recruited 10 players from his marching band, the football team, and other organizations on campus to form the dance orchestra that he called the Collegians. Different from traditional dance orchestras, the Collegians did not have a string bass player but rather a tuba player.

Consequently, most of the music they played during the early years was Dixieland.

After one year of operation with fully functioning bands, the Cal Poly Music Department was established. The next part of McPhee’s longrange plan would become a reality in 1938, when the Music Department inaugurated its first annual music tour. Davidson planned the initial tour, which took the Musical Ambassadors, as he called his troupe, to the San Joaquin Valley.

The 1940s brought change to the Cal Poly bands. Although not students at the time, the first women joined the band, and the marching band began working with the cheerleaders during performances. The band continued to grow until the U.S. entered World War II. As part of the nation’s war effort, Cal Poly was reduced from a 2,000-student college to a U.S. Navy pre-flight school of 1,000 sailors.

1940s 1916–20 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s Luckily, Davidson was able to find 15 fine musicians at the pre-flight school and was able to carry on with the Collegians’ program. Occasionally the group performed for dances held on the Navy campus.

Those years were especially characterized by a fierce pride — not nationalism, as was to be expected during wartime — but pride for Cal Poly and its retooling to support the country’s effort. The marching band’s inspirational performances at football games and the high-energy they brought to every performance represented the very essence of school spirit.

After World War II ended, Davidson had to restart.

However, Cal Poly’s music program had already established itself as one of the finest on the West Coast, so recruitment was easy. By 1947, the Collegians were in sync with the big band trend and could play all the familiar music of that era.

Betty Jo Bewley was Mustang Band’s first female drum major. She was also the national baton twirling champion in 1940 and 1941. This photo of her was taken in 1941 and shows Bewley leading the Pig Skin Parade.

In 1956, Davidson went from being the director of bands to head of the Music Department. The department had two bands at this time. The Marching Band played for all athletic events, assemblies and student functions. The Collegians played for dances on campus and other events in the community.

1950s 1916–20 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s

Clarence Coughran took over as band director when Davidson became the department head. In 1956, the first-ever concert band was established at Cal Poly. Soon, Coughran initiated the first tours by the concert band.

Throughout the 1950s, the Collegians’ caliber of musicianship grew steadily as the university grew in size. More funding was sent its way, members started recording and selling LPs on campus, and more professional orchestrations were brought in.

The Collegians’ expanded its dance and concert repertoire. Davidson had groomed and nurtured this program and helped maintain the spirit that kept the group alive and strong for all of those years.

A concert band, at this point known as Symphonic Band, performed during the winter and spring quarters. By 1967, the band’s concert schedule added a performance in winter. The Symphonic Band also toured in March, usually performing at several high schools and junior colleges throughout California. In the spring, the band worked toward its major performance of the year, the Spring Concert.

1960s 1916–20 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s

In the fall of 1966, the Cal Poly bands began playing under the direction of William V. Johnson — known to his students as “J” — from the University of Michigan.

The Pride of the Pacific Mustang Marching Band played at home football games and went on tour during the fall. The band also made an annual appearance at the Homecoming rally. To conclude the marching band season, a “Bando-rama” concert was held in the little theater — and later in the gym — highlighting many of the selections from its halftime shows.

In the fall of 1968, for the first time, the Marching Band grew to more than 100 members. After the football season ended in that year, volunteer members of the marching band became the Cal Poly Pep Band and provided entertainment at basketball games and wrestling matches.

The Marching Band continued to grow as well. In 1970, the Cal Poly Band hit the big time. Now 124 members strong, the band was invited to perform at a professional football game.

By 1970, the Symphonic Band had 71 members.

The concerts included performances by smaller chamber groups of students from the band, such as a percussion ensemble and a brass quintet. In an effort to keep the band program on a yearround basis, a symphonic band formed for the summer of 1970. In winter of 1971 the Symphonic Band had grown to 84 members. At this point, their Winter Concert tour included nine performances in less than a week at high schools and junior colleges from Los Angeles to San Diego. During the spring of 1972, the Symphonic Band went on another tour, a five-day tour to Northern California. They also gave a special concert for disabled children at the Shriners Hospital in San Francisco.

1970s 1970s 1980s 1990s–2000s

In the winter of 1981, the Cal Poly Symphonic Band established a tradition of the annual Pops Concert. Much in the style of the Boston Pops, recent years have seen a return to this tradition.

From 1983 to 1988, all of the Cal Poly bands continued to go on annual tours throughout the state of California. Additionally in 1983, the Cal Poly Symphonic Band represented the U.S at the Fêtes de Genève (Festival of Geneva) during a 14-day concert tour of Switzerland.

1970s 1980s 1980s 1990s–2000s These years culminated in a long concert tour of Japan. During the tour, which took place from June 14–31, 1988, the Symphonic Band visited many cities including Kyoto, Hamamatsu, Mocha, Osaka, Tenri, Tokyo, and Tsu. The tour was a combination of cultural exchange, travel and performance. In addition to the band of more than 60 students, local professional musicians Tony Clements, tuba, and Virginia Wright, clarinet, also traveled with the group as featured artists.

Cal Poly Band Directors Through the Years: • D.W. Schlosser, 1916-19 • H.M. Whitlock, 1919-25 • Merritt Smith, 1926-36 • Harold P. Davidson, 1936-56 • Clarence Coughrans, 1956-59 • George Beatie, 1959-63 • J. Marty Baum, 1963-66 • William V. Johnson, 1966-10 • Paul Rinzler, 1997-present director of jazz studies

• Christopher J. Woodruff, 2006-present associate director of bands

• Andrew McMahan, 2010-present

In 1991 the Symphonic Band was invited to perform at the American Bandmaster’s Association conference at Arizona State University. During the trip, friendships were formed, which inspired the establishment of a Kappa Kappa Psi Colony at Cal Poly. Additionally 1991 marked the first year that a music major was offered at the university.

Graydon Williams served as director of the University Jazz Bands from 1970-91. Paul Rinzler, the current director of jazz bands, was welcomed to Cal Poly in 1997. Rinzler brought in yet another new vision to the jazz program. He wanted the jazz bands to play traditional swing dance gigs and play specialized repertoire at the outer boundaries of jazz. The jazz bands play both types of concerts so all of his students can learn in all stages of his program.

1970s 1980s 1990s–2000s 1990s–2000s

THE CAL POLY BANDS TODAY

DIRECTORS ANDREW MCMAHAN - Director of Bands Andrew McMahan joined the faculty as director of bands in the fall of 2010. He teaches courses in music theory and conducting, as well as instrumental literature and rehearsal techniques. McMahan also serves as administrator, artistic director and conductor for all ensembles under the purview of the Cal Poly Band Program.

Prior to his appointment at Cal Poly, McMahan served as the coordinator of instrumental studies at California State University Stanislaus. At CSU Stanislaus he directed the Wind Ensemble and taught courses in conducting, brass pedagogy, and instrumental literature. Although in the position for only two years, McMahan organized two successful band/orchestra festivals, assisted with promoting the school through community outreach and high school student recruitment, and took the Wind Ensemble on a 10-day performance tour of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Before moving to California, McMahan spent time at the University of Minnesota both as a teacher and as a doctoral student. While there, he was the director and principal conductor of the university’s Campus Orchestra and was a frequent guest conductor with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and University Bands. He also served as the announcer for the 320-member Pride of Minnesota Marching Band. Before arriving in Minneapolis, McMahan spent four years as the director of instrumental studies, studio trumpet teacher, and instructor of secondary music education at Simpson College, a liberal arts institution just outside of Des Moines, Iowa.

A native of North Carolina, McMahan earned his Bachelor of Science in music education degree from Western Carolina University, Master of Music degree from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. His previous teaching experience includes three years as a high school music teacher in both parochial and public high schools in the metro Milwaukee, Wis., area.

McMahan maintains professional memberships with the College Band Directors National Association, California Band Directors Association, and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.

PAUL RINZLER - Director of Jazz Studies Paul Rinzler joined the Cal Poly faculty in 1997 as director of jazz studies after having taught jazz classes at UC Santa Cruz for 12 years. He eared his doctorate in theory and composition with a secondary emphasis in jazz pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.

He was the accompanist for a jazz choir recording (“Hot IV”) that was nominated for a Grammy Award. On his jazz piano trio CD, “Active Listening” (Sea Breeze Jazz 3039), “Cadence” magazine noted “impressive trio interplay,” and “rich dialogues.” Rinzler has been awarded several National Endowment of the Arts grants, including a Jazz Performance Grant. His compositions have been performed in New England, California, and the Midwest. Walrus Music publishes his big band compositions. He appears as a special guest artist on the recent collective improvisation CD “Short to the House.”

In October of 2008 Scarecrow Press published Rinzler’s latest book, “The Contradictions of Jazz,” about the opposites that jazz musicians embrace, opposites such as individualism and interconnectedness, tradition and creativity, and others. Scarecrow Press re-released Rinzler’s “Jazz Arranging and Performance Practice” in paperback, and Hal Leonard Corp. published his most recent book, “Quartal Jazz Piano Voicings.” His articles on jazz have appeared in journals such as the Annual Review of Jazz Studies and Jazz Research, as well as the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.

Wadsworth Publishing recently published his listening guide software that accompanies the jazz history text “Essential Jazz: The First 10 Years.”

CHRISTOPHER J. WOODRUFF - Associate Director of Bands Christopher J. Woodruff has been associate director of bands since fall 2006. In addition to his responsibilities with the concert and athletic bands at Cal Poly, he teaches courses in music theory, music education and music appreciation. As instructor of trumpet, he also coaches the Cal Poly Brass Choir and teaches methods courses in brass pedagogy.

Inspired by participation at various music institutes while in high school — including the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Music Center — Woodruff pursued a bachelor’s degree in music education at Louisiana State University. He continued his studies in conducting at Northwestern University, where he received the Eckstein Band Conducting Grant and earned a master’s degree in music. His principal conducting teachers have included Frank Wickes, John Paynter, Stephen Peterson and Mallory Thompson. While in Chicago, Woodruff served as music director of the Spring Valley Concert Band and was a guest conductor for the Northshore Concert Band and the Northshore Chamber Orchestra.

He is also a guest conductor for the Cal Poly Symphony, Penn Central Wind Band, and San Luis Chamber Orchestra. For the upcoming season, he will conduct the San Luis Chamber Orchestra in its finale concert for the 2015-16 season in a program that will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 and Fucik’s Florentinermarsch. He was recently appointed as assistant conductor for the current season of the San Luis Obispo Symphony.

An active trumpet performer, Woodruff has been a member of numerous professional and community ensembles. He has been featured in solo works for trumpet with the Penn Central Wind Band, San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra, and the San Luis Obispo Chamber Orchestra. In 2014 he performed at the Kaleidoscope Festival in Dublin, Ireland. He has studied trumpet with James West, Joseph Jamerson, Adam Luftman, Rex Richardson and Jose Sibaja.

LEN KAWAMOTO – Assistant Director of Mustang Band Len Kawamoto has been serving as the assistant director of the Mustang Band since the fall of 1998. Born in New Hyde Park, N.Y., and raised in Torrance, Calif., he is an alumnus of Cal Poly and the Mustang Band. As a student, Kawamoto studied computer science while playing horn in the Mustang Band, Wind Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he participated in musical organizations such as the San Luis Obispo County Band, San Luis Obispo Chamber Orchestra and the Sacramento Freelancers Drum and Bugle Corps. His student leadership positions included equipment manager, executive officer, and Mustang Band president. Kawamoto is also a founding father of the Iota Pi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, Kawamoto accepted his current position as assistant director for the Mustang Band. Kawamoto is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the International Horn Society, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society. He also performs regularly with the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra, Core-tete, and Pacific Coast Brass Ensemble. He has previously performed with the Cuesta Wind Ensemble, the San Francisco Renegades Senior Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Renegades Mini-Corps.

In addition to his responsibilities with the Mustang Band, Kawamoto maintains his professional alter ego as a software engineer for a local engineering company.

Cal Poly’s University Jazz Bands program combines the professionalism of a working big band with the academic rigor of cutting-edge big band repertoire. The University Jazz Band I has been professionally contracted to perform at the world’s largest jazz festival (the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee) and regularly performs at swing dances.

The Cal Poly jazz bands perform specialized repertoires, including modern big band concert compositions, swing dance, world music (including Ethiopian pop), heavy-metal (music from Pat Boone’s “In a Metal Mood” big band album), television themes and jazz for cartoons.

UNIVERSITY JAZZ BANDS

The University Jazz Bands have received unanimous superior evaluations at collegiate jazz festivals.

They have been rated as the best four-year collegiate big band at UC Berkeley’s Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. University Jazz Band I has toured in Brazil, China and Puerto Rico.

CONCERT BANDS

The Cal Poly Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra enjoys a national as well as international reputation for musical excellence. Each year, these ensembles perform several major concerts in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center and often goes on national and international tours.

With an increase in support from the general population of university students, Mustang Band had set a goal to grow to as many as 150 members. The organization has grown from 80 members in 2004 to 220 members in 2015.

PRIDE OF THE PACIFIC MUSTANG BAND

A NOTE FROM PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG What would Cal Poly be without the Mustang Band? Many football fans enjoy the band at halftime as much as or more than the game. When you need school spirit, when you need a lift, when you need to get people on their feet and cheering for the Mustangs, who do you call? The Mustang Band, that’s who!

Pride. Character. Responsibility. The Mustang Band embodies the Mustang Way. Sharon and I offer a very heartfelt thank you to all band members and leaders past and present for boosting spirit at Cal Poly for 100 years.

It’s an especially magical experience for our band members. Whether an engineering major, architecture, biology, business, agriculture, math or English literature — or — of course, maybe even music — playing in the band creates lifelong friendships and memories.

Congratulations on 100 years of spirit-building, entertainment and fun, Mustang style.

Here’s to the next 100 years.

Go Mustangs!

Jeffrey D. Armstrong President

The Mustang Band is a large group of brass, woodwind, percussion, and color guard performers that provide entertainment at Cal Poly athletic events.

Although easily recognizable in Spanos Stadium at all home football games as the 220-member Pride of the Pacific Mustang Marching Band, the organization also features four stadium bands. These pep bands (at approximately 50 members per ensemble) perform at all home volleyball matches as well as all men’s and women’s home basketball games.

Today, the band is conducted by Christopher Woodruff and Len Kawamoto during the fall and winter quarters. The Mustang Band also performs at special functions throughout the year, including Week of Welcome activities in September, the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade in February, and Cal Poly’s Open House weekend in April.

PEP BAND

ALUMNI BAND

GO MUSTANGS!