By Tiffany Sauceda, September 29, 2026
Cal Poly Pomona’s Philharmonic Orchestra performed a free concert for voter registration awareness at the CPP Music Recital Hall Sept. 17.
According to the event’s organizer, music professor and orchestra director Janine Riveire, the concert was held to encourage students to vote and educate them on the importance of voting ahead of the Nov. 3. midterm election.
The orchestra performed pieces from the Broadway play “Hamilton,” songs by American composer Gwyneth Walker and included a guest performance with Ernest Harrison, professor of ethnomusicology, for the protest song “We Shall Overcome.”
In the lobby of the music hall, the LA County Registrars of Voters office encouraged students to register to vote.
Once registered, students were entered into a raffle to win two free tickets valued at $30, to the orchestra’s November concert.
“Everybody likes music,” Riveire said. “Sometimes a concert will get people to show up for something, and they learn a little something on the side.”
To open the performance, Riveire introduced Walker’s song “For the Future” by speaking about the importance of preparing younger generations to understand the role their votes can play. She encouraged younger people to become more involved in the voting process.
“I am a proud member of the baby boomer generation, and I have seen how politicians seek out the vote of my older brothers and sisters,” Riveire said. “But we’re also getting old and decrepit. So, it’s about time the younger generation did the same thing my generation did.”
The Orchestra then performed “You’ll Be Back,” “Helpless” and “My Shot” from “Hamilton.”
According to Riveire, “My Shot” is about young people who wanted change and made sure everything they did counted toward making political change happen.
Riviere said, “You’ll Be Back” stood for the people in power throughout history.
According to Riveire, music is a human power that can bring people together.
Joey Moreno, orchestra performer and music education student, said he hopes the event encourages students to realize the importance of their vote and how their political opinions should be heard without fear.
“Our generation is still growing; we have a … voice,” Moreno said. “We’re very vocal about our problems and our issues nowadays, that we can impact a lot.”
The connection between music and social movement was shown through Harrison’s performance of “We Shall Overcome” with the orchestra.
Harrison taught the crowd the lyrics and discussed the song’s significance during the civil rights era, Gay Liberation movement and the Women’s Rights Movement.
“It’s always looking forward,” Harrison said. “Civil rights and social justice movements sometimes feel like they are never ending.”
According to Harrison, “We Shall Overcome” represents hope and encourages people facing oppression to keep moving forward. Explaining its prominence during the Civil Rights Movement. He connected the song’s message to voting and future generations, saying people should use their voices to address issues they want to see changed.
“Find things in your life that you’re not happy with, more than likely there was a vote connected to it,” Harrison said. “You missed it, don’t miss it again.”