Cal Poly Wind Orchestra & Wind Ensemble – Live in Munich!

Join the Cal Poly Wind Orchestra & Wind Ensemble from the USA for a special concert during their 2026 Europe tour!

Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble

Both concert bands are comprised of 40-50 musicians who hail from nearly every major across campus. Generally speaking, the Wind Orchestra is open to all students by audition; the Wind Ensemble is open to all students who meet the performance and repertoire needs of the year. The bands produce a concert at least once near the end of each academic term. Each group meets as a class twice each week. Since they meet at different times, there are a few students who play in both groups!

Cal Poly Wind Band

On occasion, the two classes will combine. This will happen for certain large-scale performances or for voluntary overseas travel.

Conductors

Christopher J. Woodruff, director of bands

Christopher J. Woodruff joined the faculty of Cal Poly as associate director of bands in 2006 and was appointed to director of bands in 2018. In addition to his responsibilities with the band program, he teaches courses in music theory, music education, and brass chamber music.

He maintains a full schedule of guest conducting and coaching ensembles in California and across the nation. Locally, he has served as an associate or guest conductor for San Luis Obispo Symphony, San Luis Chamber Orchestra. In 2023, he was appointed conductor of the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra.

An active trumpet performer, Woodruff has enjoyed return engagements in Europe for the Dublin Brass Week and the MidEurope Festival hosted in Austria. Across the Central Coast, he plays trumpet for Orchestra Novo, Festival Mozaic and the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale. He has a been a guest soloist for community groups including, Penn Central Wind Band, San Luis Obispo Chamber Orchestra and San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra.

Nicholas P. Waldron, associate director of bands

Nicholas P. Waldron is an Assistant Professor and the Associate Director of Bands at Cal Poly, where he oversees the Mustang Band and Wind Orchestra, in addition to teaching courses in music theory, music appreciation, and music education. He completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree with honors in Wind Conducting at the University of Kansas School of Music where he studied with Dr. Paul W. Popiel. He served as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Bands, was the director of the Women’s Basketball Band and assistant director for the Men’s Basketball Band and taught conducting and music education courses. He holds a Master of Music Degree and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Indiana University, where he studied conducting with Stephen W. Pratt and bassoon with William Ludwig and Kathleen McLean.