Ensembles
Our ensemble program offers numerous performance opportunities to all University students who desire to continue their musical experiences. USD provides instruments and uniforms, at no charge, to participating students on a semester-to-semester basis.
Both music major and non-major music scholarships and talent awards are available to those who participate in the ensemble program. Music majors and other students who receive a music scholarship are required to enroll in their major ensemble each semester that they are enrolled in classes. Interested students should contact the Department of Music at their earliest convenience to arrange for a music scholarship or talent award audition.
Marching Band
Dakota's Finest, the USD Marching Coyotes, is the most visible ensemble at The University of South Dakota and includes instrumentalists, guard, drumline and staff assistants. The band performs in the DakotaDome during the half-time activities at all home Coyote football games and provides an annual exhibition performance for the USD Quad State Field Marching Competition held each October.
The Marching Coyotes travel to at least one away NCC football game most years and future plans include trips to professional football games in the area. The band has performed at several area high schools, the Dakota Bowl, and the Festival of Bands competition in Sioux Falls, SD.
Membership in the marching band is open to all University students with auditions being held for membership in the drumline, the guard and drum majors. The rehearsal schedule is relatively light, requiring fewer hours a week than most high school marching bands.
Incoming students are encouraged to consider membership in Dakota's Finest, as participation in the band will provide the student with an instant core of friends and a sense of belonging during their first weeks of campus life.
MUEN 120, 320, 720
1 hour credit
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is the "flagship" of the University band program. Membership in the 60-member ensemble is limited to the University's finest instrumentalists. Auditions are open to all University students and are held during the first two weeks of classes at the beginning of the fall semester. Participation in the ensemble is open to all students and generally includes students from most major areas of study offered at the University.
Recognized as an outstanding instrumental ensemble, the USD Symphonic Band performs the finest in transcriptions and original compositions for the contemporary wind band. Recently the band has premiered four original works. The USD Symphonic Band has performed at state, regional, and national conventions, along with touring within the state and region on an annual basis.
MUEN 121, 321, 721
1 hour credit
Concert Choir
The Concert Choir is the large select choral ensemble for undergraduate and graduate music students. The 60-member ensemble is open to music majors and the general University student body by audition during the beginning of the academic year. The University Choir performs a wide variety of accompanied and unaccompanied choral literature including choral classics and indigenous music from throughout the world.
In addition to its regular on-campus concert schedule, the ensemble performs throughout the state and region. The University Choir has performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as well as being a featured ensemble at Music Educators National Conference and American Choral Directors Association meetings. The University Choir has also performed at the South Dakota In-Service Music Educators Conference in Brookings, South Dakota on several occasions.
MUEN 100, 300, 700
1 hour credit
University Orchestra
Members of the University/Community Orchestra include music majors and minors, other University students, and musicians from the Vermillion area. The orchestra performs an on-campus concert each semester and presents the winner of the annual student concerto competition on the spring concert. The orchestra also features soloists from the Department of Music faculty. Auditions for membership in the USD Community Orchestra are held during the beginning of each semester. Students may enroll for one hour of University credit, zero hours of credit or play without official registration.
Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra is a select ensemble comprised of six to twelve string players. The members of the ensemble perform on both traditional and period instruments while performing a wide variety of chamber music. Wind, keyboard and percussion instruments may be used when performing appropriate repertoire. Membership is open to all University students.
MUEN 145, 345, 745
1 hour credit
Chamber Singers
The Chamber Singers is a highly select chamber ensemble comprised of undergraduate and graduate music majors and other select members of the University community. The ensemble presents formal concerts on campus each semester and tours within the state and region.
Recognized as an outstanding choral ensemble, the USD Chamber Singers have performed for state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. The ensemble has professionally recorded several choral works for companion record series to music textbooks used by colleges and universities nation wide. Auditions for the USD Chamber Singers are held during the first week of classes each Fall term.
MUEN 104, 304, 704
1 hour credit
Opera Workshop
Opera workshop provides students with training in vocal performance skills such as acting, stage presence, movement, text communication and character development. Students participate in preparation and performance of individual songs or arias, and staged scenes from the operatic and musical theater repertory. Opera workshop is open to all University students by audition.
MUEN 107, 307, 707
Basketball Pep Band
The Basketball Pep Band is a highly visible instrumental organization with great student interest. The band plays at home basketball games, primarily during the second semester. Membership is open to the general student body with auditions being held during the first part of November. Scholarship funds are available for participation in the band.
MUEN 123, 323, 723
1 hour credit
Jazz Ensembles
Our two Jazz Ensembles offer big band experience to students. Membership is open to University students by audition during the first week of the fall term. Both ensembles perform on campus concerts each term and tour off campus within the state and region.
Jazz combos give students the opportunity to perform in a small group setting with an emphasis on improvisation. In addition, courses on jazz improvisation are offered to students.
USD Jazz Ensembles have performed at some of the nation's top collegiate jazz festivals, including the UNC-Greeley Jazz Festival and the Wichita Jazz Festival. Recognized jazz soloists and clinicians such as Bobby Shew, Chris Vadala, Allen Vizutti, Jim Pugh, Willie Thomas, Buddy Baker, Dave Samuels and others have performed with the University Jazz Ensembles, offering students the opportunity to perform with some of the top artists in the country.
MUEN 180, 380, 780
1 hour credit
Women's and Men's Chorus
The Men's and Women's Chorus is a large mixed chorus comprised of students from all academic areas. The chorus meets on Tuesday evenings and is open to University students, faculty and members of the Vermillion community without audition. Repertoire performed by the chorus includes sacred and secular choral works, folk music, spirituals and popular music of the day. The chorus performs an on campus concert each semester.
MUEN 103, 102, 303, 302, 703, 702
1 hour credit
Concert Band
The Concert Band is open to University students, faculty and members of the Vermillion community without audition. The focus of the ensemble is to provide a quality musical experience for general University students. The ensemble also provides music education majors exposure to music which might be programmed at the public school level. Repertoire for the ensemble includes standard band literature, marches, instrumental solos and popular music of the day. The band performs an on campus concert each semester. Instruments will be provided to participants in need of one.
MUEN 122, 322, 722
1 hour credit
Percussion Ensembles/Steel Drums
University students have the opportunity to participate in several unique percussion experiences. Participation in the various ensembles is by audition during the first week of classes in the fall semester.
Traditional percussion ensemble experience includes membership in the Percussion Ensemble/Marimba Ensemble. Participation in these two ensembles requires a strong background in performance of numerous traditional percussion instruments.
The Steel Drum Band is available for students with an interest in music of the Caribbean. The Steel Drum Band experience is offered at both the beginning and advanced performance levels. Students with a basic understanding of note reading and some keyboard experience will find the world of playing a steel pan a great experience.
MUEN 170, 370, 770
1 hour credit
Brass Chamber Ensembles
The University Brass Choir is our major brass ensemble. Auditions for this ensemble are held during the first week of each semester. The Brass Choir performs a variety of traditional and contemporary literature for brass. Concerts are performed on and off campus and the group tours regularly throughout South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. The Brass Choir was recently invited to perform for the State Bandmasters Conventions and has been aired several times on South Dakota Public Television and Radio.
Other brass chamber ensembles include the Brass Quintet, Trombone Ensemble, Trumpet Ensemble and Horn Choir. Each ensemble is coached by a faculty member and performs concerts on and off campus.
MUEN 160, 360, 760
1 hour credit