Get Involved: Music

Founded in 1986 by Dr. Eugene Novotney, the Cal Poly Humboldt Calypso Band was the first of its kind in the California State University system. This fully acoustic ensemble features a steel drum orchestra, more accurately, steelpans, crafted from 55-gallon oil barrels that are meticulously shaped and tuned to produce a full symphonic range.

The band remains deeply connected to the roots of the steelband movement in Trinidad & Tobago, the birthplace of the steelpan. Many of its instruments were built by Trinidadian craftsman Clifford Alexis. The group performs traditional and contemporary music from the Caribbean, Africa, Brazil, and the U.S.

Performing indigenous “Calypso” and “Soca” music, the band’s repertoire is heavily influenced by Trinidadian steelband arrangements. It has developed close ties with renowned composers like Ray Holman and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, who have written original works for the ensemble. Alumni have performed in Trinidad’s National Panorama Competition and now lead steelbands across the U.S. in schools, communities, and professionally.

Offered as a class through the Department of Music (MUS 107/407C), the Calypso Band is open to all students. In addition to campus and regional concerts, the band has toured widely across California and the Pacific Northwest.

• Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Calypso Band performing “Pan in Unity” with special guest soloist from Trinidad & Tobago, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe
• Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Calypso Band performing “Bazodee” by Ray Holman with special guest soloists from Trinidad & Tobago, Josanne Francis and Liam Teague
• Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Calypso Band performing “Misbehave” by Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe
  Promotional Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Calypso Band: "30 Years of HSU Calypso Band" 

String Chamber Music is a 1 unit course (MUS 107/407) which fulfills the lower and upper division Area C GE requirement, as well as music majors' ensemble requirement. It places students of like ability into string chamber music groups, like string quartets, trios, etc. Students can also be placed with woodwind instruments or piano to create chamber music groups. Some groups will be asked to participate in a Service-Learning Program, which pairs groups with a community partner, such as a hospital, school, or senior center. These groups will prepare presentations and performances for the community partner organization.

Our music program features three choirs open to all students, regardless of major. These ensembles unite students from diverse academic backgrounds to build vocal technique, musicianship, and performance skills, with each group performing at least once per semester.

The Humboldt Chorale (MUS 106/406N) is the largest and non-auditioned, welcoming students and community members.
Madrigal Singers offers a more intimate choral experience and requires a brief audition. 
University Singers (MUS 106/406B) is for advanced singers focusing on challenging repertoire and also requires an audition. 

All choirs perform a wide variety of music from Renaissance to contemporary works, global traditions, and popular styles.

For those interested in jazz and close harmonies, Mad River Transit Singers (MUS 106/406F) provides a 12–14 voice ensemble exploring diverse jazz genres. 

Auditions are friendly and designed to help you find your best fit. All are welcome! For questions or to audition, contact: Rachel Samet, Director or Choirs rachel.samet@humboldt.edu  

Humboldt Symphony (MUS 106O/406O): This full symphony orchestra plays the great works of the symphonic literature from all eras.

For over 80 years, the Humboldt Symphony has been a large ensemble course offering in the Humboldt music program. The course meets with community group, the All-Seasons Orchestra, on Saturdays in Eureka. A full symphonic orchestra, the Humboldt Symphony consists of orchestral strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Students must pass an informal audition order to participate, and both music majors and non-majors are welcomed.

The ensemble, currently conducted by Garrick Woods, performs in locations throughout the county, including Fortuna, Eureka, Arcata, and Trinidad. Soloists are regularly featured, including the winners of our annual concerto competition.

Repertoire is drawn from the immense variety of literature composed for orchestra, including music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, and Post-Modern eras as well as film, musical theater, jazz, pop/rock, and video game scores.

The Intermediate orchestra is a mixed chamber ensemble that focuses on playing music from popular media: video games, film, commercial music, etc. We occasionally play an arrangement of from the orchestral repertoire canon as well.

This group is designed for the intermediate level player, students who are learning "doubles,” picking up their instruments after a layoff, or who have completed the beginning instrument classes at Humboldt. Most music is arranged by faculty and students so we can play almost anything! Open to all orchestral instrumentalists and others including, saxophone, electric bass, etc.

AM Jazz Band (MUS 106/406J)

This ensemble is designed for intermediate players, students learning a "double,” and students new to the jazz idiom. Emphasis is on style, literature, and improvisation. (No audition required).

Jazz Combos (MUS 107/407J)

The Cal Poly Humboldt Jazz Combos are groups of three to seven musicians. Three or more groups are formed each semester by audition. Humboldt professor Dan Aldag coaches the combos, but they are largely autonomous, with each group deciding what style(s) of jazz they wish to perform, selecting (and often times composing) their own repertoire and often rehearsing themselves. As a result, the combos each have their own character and personality. In recent years, groups have played in styles ranging from traditional New Orleans and Gypsy jazz to post-bop and funk.

Rehearsal times
Students placed in a combo will rehearse Fridays 12:00-12:50, 1:00-1:50, or 2:00-2:50, plus one more hour TBA. If you are auditioning for Jazz Combos, please try to leave all three Friday hours free. The more of these hours you have free, the easier it is to be placed in a combo.

Auditions
Auditions for the Jazz Combos take place every semester on the first Wednesday evening of the semester. Information and music to be prepared for the auditions is posted the week before. Students auditioning are asked to perform three tunes as part of a group.

Jazz Orchestra (MUS 106/406K)

The Cal Poly Humboldt Jazz Orchestra is a big band made up of saxes, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm section, with other instruments and voice occasionally used. The Jazz Orchestra plays the best literature available for large jazz ensemble, from classics of the 1920s and 1930s to music written by today’s most innovative composers and arrangers, including Cal Poly Humboldt students and faculty.

The band regularly tours, travelling to jazz festivals and playing at high schools and junior colleges. The Jazz Orchestra also performed at the 2019 Jazz Educators Network Conference in Reno, Nevada.

For more information or questions about Jazz ensembles, contact Dan Aldag: dja1@humboldt.edu 

Opera Workshop (MUS 106/406E) is an auditioned ensemble open to all Cal Poly Humboldt students, focusing on traditional and contemporary musical theatre repertoire including operetta, grand opera, chamber opera, and Broadway musicals. Students prepare individual roles, ensembles, and scenes, culminating in a public performance each semester.

Auditions assess vocal quality and musicianship. Full productions often feature orchestra, chorus, costumes, sets, and lighting, frequently in collaboration with the Theatre Arts program. Past shows include Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, La Bohème, and The Magic Flute. The group also presents musical revues spotlighting composers like Sondheim, Gershwin, Porter, and Kern, along with smaller scenes and staged excerpts.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s Percussion Ensembles offer diverse performance opportunities in classical, contemporary, experimental, and world music for percussionists of all levels. The program includes two main groups: the World Percussion Group and the Contemporary Percussion Ensemble.

The university houses one of the North Coast’s largest percussion collections, featuring high-end instruments like Black Swamp and Noble & Cooley snares, Yamaha and Gretsch drumsets, vintage timpani, and several custom-made Marimba One rosewood marimbas and xylophones—crafted locally in Arcata.

Percussion Ensemble (Contemporary) (MUS 107/407P) specializes in works by 20th-century composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Steve Reich. Emphasizing historically accurate interpretations, the group uses vintage and custom-made instruments and performs everything from classic repertoire to innovative fusion works using a vast array of percussion instruments.

Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble performing "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" by Mr. Bungle
Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble performing “Ketiak" by Akira Nishimura
Video of the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble performing "Ogun Badagris” by Christopher Rouse

The Woodwind Ensemble (MUS 106/406H) plays the highest quality wind literature. Organized on a "pool of players" concept, instrumentation expands and contracts from 10-50 players depending upon the repertoire.

The Wind Ensemble is a select group of the best wind and percussion players in the University. Repertoire includes the highest quality literature for winds available. The ensemble will have flexible instrumentation which meets the requirements of the repertoire chosen using from 8-50 players as needed. Membership is determined by skill level, instrumentation needs, and attitude/commitment. An audition is required for new members.

The Wind Ensemble performs four on-campus concerts per year and tours every other year. Concert tours have included highly acclaimed performances at the Western States Collegiate Band Festival and the California Music Educators State Convention. They have also appeared in concert with the Dallas Brass.