Wednesday, June 23 to Friday June 25, 2027
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 three-day institute will include large ensemble reading sessions, master classes and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for band directors. The tuition costs may be paid online, by check with pre-registration or on the first day of the institute. Participants are highly encouraged to pre-register for purposes of instrumentation for the reading bands. Registration for the institute is $250 to attend in person. Registration for online only participation is $325.
Register Online
Registration Form
Guest Clinician: Randall Standridge
Randall Standridge (b. 1976) received his Bachelor’s of Music Education
from Arkansas State University. During this time, he studied composition
with Dr. Tom O’Connor, before returning to Arkansas State University
to earn his Master’s in Music Composition, studying with Dr. Tom
O’Connor and Dr. Tim Crist. In 2001, he began his tenure as Director
of Bands at Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, Arkansas. He left this
post in 2013 to pursue a career as a full-time composer and marching arts
designer. Mr. Standridge’s music is performed internationally. He has
had numerous works selected for the J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s
Choice list.
His compositions Snake Charmer, Gently Blows the Summer Wind, and Angelic
Celebrations have been included in the “Teaching Music Through
Performance in Band” series, and he has had numerous works performed
at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. His works
Stonewall: 1969, unBroken, and Animation (Episode 1: WABBIT!), have all
been recognized as honorable mentions for the American Prize in Composition,
and his Symphony no. 1: A Ghost Story was premiered in 2023 and was awarded
3rd Place in the American Prize for Composition in 2025. In addition,
Mr. Standridge’s “unBroken Project,” a musical initiative
about mental health, has received widespread acclaim for its musical content
and for providing opportunities to normalize discussions about mental health
for music students and audiences.
In addition to his career as a composer, Mr. Standridge is the owner and
chief editor of Randall Standridge Music, LLC, and Grand Mesa Marching.
He is in demand as a composer, conductor, clinician, and arranger/designer
for the marching arts. He lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with his husband,
Steven, and their very, very spoiled pets.
Housing
Participants have the option of staying on campus or planning their own accommodations during the institute. Participants wishing to stay on campus may stay in air conditioned, single occupancy rooms at a rate of $55 per night plus applicable tax, pending Board of Regents approval. These rates do not include bed linens or towels.
Optional Graduate Credit
Participants have the option to earn graduate credit for participation in certain sessions. Payment of tuition ($40 per credit hour) for graduate credit is due on the day of registration. Tuition rates are set by the South Dakota Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice. Selected clinicians and/or USD faculty instruct all sessions.
MUS790 Instrumental Rehearsal Concepts and Classroom Methods- Master classes and clinics focusing on teaching materials, techniques and pedagogy for music educators, grades K–12.
MUS790 Educational Music for Instrumental Ensembles- Reading sessions focusing on a wide variety of instrumental music for public school band, grades 5–12. Materials will include both standard works and new releases from major publishers.
MUS790 Contemporary Issues in Instrumental Pedagogy- Seminars and roundtable discussions to allow the band director to focus on current trends in the area of instrumental music education. A written final project is required.
For more information contact Director of Symphonic Bands Bethany Amundson at (605)-658-3468 or at [email protected].
