Christina CasciBudapest, Prague, Austria and Germany.
These are all places that the Polyphonics choir and the wind ensemble will visit this summer on tour. However, with a tight budget, the group is trying to raise last minute funds to offset costs.
Polyphonics is putting on a concert this Sunday at 8 p.m. in Spanos Theater called “Happiness is – a Night at the Pops.”
“If we fill Spanos, we can easily earn $1,000,” music senior Melody Svennungsen said.
The concert will be like a musical variety show with songs from Broadway musicals like Rent, Les Miserables, Oklahoma, West Side Story and more, Svennungsen said.
The show will last two hours with a 15 minute intermission, and all proceeds will go to the general fund for the trip.
Polyphonics is a 40-member ensemble that performs challenging music from all periods, according to the Cal Poly choir’s Web site, www.music.calpoly.edu.
“Polyphonics is an auditioned choir that is a notch above the University Singers Choir,” Svennungsen said. “They need to be able to read music so there are a lot of music majors in it.”
The auditioning process is highly intensive, she said. They will usually have to sight read a tune they have never seen before because it really tests their musical skills, Svennungsen added.
Even if the funds are not raised in time for the tour, the 120 students will still go to Europe. The choir has raised half of what they need.
“I know that it is sometimes hard for students to come up with money for something that doesn’t seem that important,” she said. “On the other hand, I will go spend $10 on popcorn and a movie, which also isn’t that important.”