Wednesday, June 24 to Friday June 26, 2026
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. Pre-registration by June 1 will lower the fee to $225.
Guest Clinician: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages is known worldwide as a composer and conductor who equally spans the worlds of orchestral, band, and chamber music. His music has been performed by groups ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary schools in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, Toronto Centre for the Arts, and many more. He is a recipient of the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest with his work Love and Light, and was awarded the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts. In the same year, he was commissioned by his other alma mater, the University of Miami, to compose music for the inauguration of the institution’s 6th president, Dr. Julio Frenk. His music was also performed as part of the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, which was attended by both President Obama and Vice President Biden.
As a conductor, Mr. Balmages enjoys regular engagements with all-state and regional ensembles as well as university and professional groups throughout the world. Notable guest conducting appearances have included the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, Maryborough Music Conference (Australia), College Band Directors Conference, American School Band Directors Association National Conference, numerous state ASTA conferences, Teatro dell’Aquila (Italy), and others. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and has taught instrumental conducting at Towson University where he also served as Assistant Director of Bands and Orchestras. Currently, he is Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
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.
MUS793 Rehearsal Techniques and Classroom Methods for the Instrumental Educator- Master classes and clinics focusing on teaching materials, techniques and pedagogy for music educators, grades K–12.
MUS 793 Instrumental Music for Educational 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.
MUS 793 Special Topics in Instrumental Music Education- 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].
