Music Events & Workshops

The 18th Annual USD All-State Chorus Workshop took place on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. For more information regarding the upcoming 2022 USD All-State Chorus Workshop or to register for the event, email David Holdhusen at david.holdhusen@usd.edu.

The University of South Dakota’s Band Directors Institute is an intensive program designed to expose music educators to the best in current and standard literature in addition to teaching methods and materials.

The institute includes reading sessions, masterclasses and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for band directors directors and will feature guest clinicians, as well as a variety of USD faculty.

For more information or to register, visit the Band Directors Institute page.

The University of South Dakota’s Choral Directors Institute is an intensive program designed to expose music educators to the best in current and standard literature in addition to teaching methods and materials

The institute includes large ensemble reading sessions, master classes and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for choral directors and will feature a guest clinician and a variety of USD faculty.

For more information or to register for the event, visit the Choral Directors Institute page.

Join us for a day of clarinet music making at the University of South Dakota. The event is free admission and open to clarinetists from all ages and backgrounds. For more information of the upcoming Clarinet Day, email Luis Viquez at luis.viquez@usd.edu.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 

For high school jazz bands, jazz choirs and show choirs.

Since 1975 the USD Coyote Jazz Festival has featured high school music programs from South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. A competitive festival, the event is also an excellent opportunity for performing groups to receive written and recorded feedback from exceptional jazz educators and performers. Trophies are awarded for outstanding performances in each class (A-4A).

The USD Coyote Jazz Festival is sanctioned in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.

Registration

Application Deadline is one month before the date of competition.

Entry Fee: $140 per group.

Mail entry fee checks to: University of South Dakota CFA/Music Dept./C.J. Kocher 414 East Clark St. Vermillion, S.D. 57069

Refunds available until March 1. Ensembles will be accepted by the receipt of the entry form and registration fee. To assure acceptance and to prevent scheduling problems, please send your entry form immediately. Entries will be accepted by submission date and time as scheduling permits.

For questions regarding the upcoming USD Coyote Jazz Festival or to register, email Christopher Kocher at christopher.kocher@usd.edu.

The University of South Dakota welcomes high school bands to Vermillion for the Annual Dakota Days Parade & Marching Band Competition. The 2022 Marching Band Parade Competition will feature an expert panel of judges and will conclude on-campus for an award presentation, snacks for all participants, door prizes, and a brief performance by The SOUND of USD Marching Band.

Contact Todd Cranson at Todd.Cranson@usd.edu for more information regarding the Dakota Days Parade Marching Band Competition.

The Drumming Flow Retreat will be an intense focus on snare drum technique. During the retreat, you will explore grip, stroke, timing and playing with precision. You will spend the day playing on pads with a metronome in an effort to develop a relaxed, effortless approach. The session will benefit all drumming styles; drumset, marching and concert. The retreat is free, and anyone high school and older, including adults, is invited to participate.

For more information regarding the Drumming Flow Retreat, please email Darin Wadley at darin.wadley@usd.edu.

High school juniors and seniors are invited to come to USD and experience what it is like to be a music major for a day. Students will have the opportunity to attend music classes, enjoy a faculty and student recital, participate in lessons or masterclasses, discover the USD campus, and enjoy social time with current and prospective music students. This event allows students to get a better understanding of what awaits them as they transition from high school to college.

Despite the name of the event, the day is not only for future music majors. USD is famous for having music minors, as well as participants involved in our ensembles and some of our music classes. This event will give students an idea of how they might want to be involved in music after they graduate high school and continue their musical path.

February 4 & 5, 2022

The Annual Quad State Honor Band Festival brings together the finest high school musicians from the quad state region. Students participating in the Honor Symphonic Band will have the opportunity to work with Todd Cranson, USD's director of athletic bands. Students selected for the Honor Concert Band will work with Bethany Amundson, USD alumni and assistant professor of instrumental studies at Dakota Wesleyan University. All students attending the festival will also have an opportunity to work with our guest composer/clinician Carol Brittin Chambers and perform her music.

In addition to full-ensemble rehearsals, students will have master classes with the USD Department of Music applied faculty and enjoy a performance by the USD Symphonic Band. The festival concludes Sunday afternoon with a finale concert featuring both honor ensembles in Aalfs Auditorium.

For more information, please contact Todd Cranson at todd.cranson@usd.edu.

The University of South Dakota is once again proud to partner with USBands to bring you the Quad State Marching Band Competition. Registration and further information is available at the USBands website.

For more information, please contact Dr. Todd Cranson at Todd.Cranson@usd.edu.

The South Dakota Cello Day is filled with fun activities such as cello ensemble, concerts and masterclasses for students, beginners to college graduates.

For more information about the event, please email Sonja Kraus at sonja.kraus@usd.edu.

Summer Music Camp is a six-day experience of learning and music-making open to students who have completed grades 5–12. Activities include vocal and instrumental ensembles as well as a variety of other musical activities. Opportunities for private lessons in a specific instrument or voice are also available. 

For questions or more information, or to register please visit the Summer Music Camp page.

The Genevieve Truran Piano Competition for grades 8-12 is held at the University of South Dakota in the Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts. The competition is named for Genevieve Truran, a native of Pierre, SD, who taught piano at USD on a full-time basis for forty-seven years.In the competition, pianists are requred to play two of three works from memory and must be from at least two of these four compositional periods:

• Baroque
• Romantic
• Classic
• Impressionistic/Contemporary

USD Piano Scholarships

12th grade contestants who plan to attend the University of South Dakota are eligible to be awarded Truran Piano Scholarships in addition to any cash prizes. Indicate on the application form if you will be auditioning for a Truran Piano Scholarship.

For questions or more information, please email Susan Gray at susan.gray@usd.edu.

The USD Young Artist Recitals take place on Friday, November 12 at 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. in Colton Recital Hall in the Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion.

High school students in 11th and 12th grade who are a vocalist, pianist, string player or wind/percussion player are encouraged to apply.

Up to five finalists in each division (vocal, piano, string and wind/percussion) will be selected to perform at the recital. Cash prizes, along with USD Music Camp scholarships, will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners at the recital.

For more information, email Amy Laursen at amy.laursen@usd.edu.