Orchestra Festival

March 6, 2020

The annual spring Orchestra Festival brings selected high school orchestra musicians from the quad state area together. The Orchestra Festival will be conducted by Luis Víquez, D.M.A., USD's director of orchestral activities. In addition to full-ensemble rehearsals, students will have the opportunity to work with Ioana Galu, D.M.A., violin/viola faculty and Sonja Kraus, cello/bass faculty.

The festival concludes with a gala concert at 4 p.m. in Aalfs Auditorium. 

Registration Fee: $30 - covers lunch and additional USD costs. 

  • Please make a check payable to USD Department of Music and bring it the day of the event. Cash payment can also be made during the registration.

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Teachers

Please send a roster of your students via email attachment in a Word document to the correlating professors by Feb. 1, 2020. 

Include name and instrument for each student, and if possible, a ranking order. Please indicate if you have a particularly strong performer in your group that could hold a principal position during the festival.

Upon receiving your lists of students, we will email you PDF copies of the music that will be performed during the festival.

Concert dress will be all black. 

Campus Map

Orchestra Festival Schedule

8:30  - 9 a.m. - Registration and seating. (Aalfs Auditorium)
9 - 9:30 a.m. - USD Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra Concert (Aalfs)
9:40 - 11:50 a.m. - Festival Orchestra Rehearsal (Aalfs) 
12 - 1 p.m. - Lunch at the Muenster University Center, included in registration 
1:10 - 2:10 p.m. - Movie time (Colton Hall)
2:30 - 3:40 p.m. - Festival Orchestra Rehearsal (Aalfs)
3:40 - 4 p.m. - Break, change into concert attire 
4 p.m. - USD 2020 High School Orchestra Festival GAla Concert in Aalfs Auditorium

Parking

Parking passes will be distributed to all directors, parents and students driving a vehicle to the festival at the final Sunday rehearsal. Schools are asked to have their students carpool because of a limited number of parking passes.

Medical Information

Parents will be informed of any emergency medical situation that occurs during the festival, and parents will be responsible for all medical expenses incurred. Students with special medical needs or problems should provide the USD staff with a detailed written account at check-in. The University of South Dakota is not liable in the event of an accident or personal injury.

Rules and Regulations

There will be absolutely no use of tobacco, alcohol or controlled substances by students while attending the University of South Dakota Orchestra Festival. Attendance at all festival events and proper behavior is expected of all participants. Parents of any student in violation of these policies will be notified, and the student may be expelled from the festival without refund. In case of emergency, participants may be contacted by telephone through the University of South Dakota Department of Music office at 605-658-3466. The University of South Dakota is not liable for loss, theft or damage to participants' personal belongings.

USD Music Scholarship Auditions

Seniors who wish to audition for a USD music scholarship are encouraged to do so during the festival.