Over 1,000 of South Dakota’s best high school vocal and instrumental musicians will gather in Sioux Falls for the 62nd Annual South Dakota All-State Chorus and Orchestra on Friday and Saturday, October 31 – November 1. The All-State activities will culminate with a Grand Concert at the Sioux Falls Arena beginning at 7:00 p.m. (CDT) on Saturday evening, November 1. Concert tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-866-625-4586, or at the box office in the Sioux Falls Arena. The doors of the Arena will open for the Concert at 5:30 on Saturday evening.
The annual All-State Chorus & Orchestra, sponsored by South Dakota High School Activities Association, is the largest interscholastic high school music activity held in South Dakota. The 2014 All-State Chorus includes 956 singers representing 151 South Dakota high schools. The All-State Orchestra is comprised of 161 musicians from 25 schools.
Eight students from Dell Rapids and four students from Dell Rapids St Mary will be performing during the Grand Concert. Dell Rapids students participating are seniors Melanie Wilke and Luke Snoozy, juniors Josh Benda, Nick Holmes, Mikaela Stofferahn, and Ted DeLange, and sophomores Veronica Fritz and Elly Petrik. The Dell Rapids St Mary students participating are seniors Matt Farmer and Julia Rush, junior Faith Jorgensen, and sophomore Zachary Geraets. With his selection this year, Farmer has been selected to participate in the All-State Chorus all four years of high school.
The guest conductors for the 2014 All-State Chorus & Orchestra Concert are Dr. Andre Thomas from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL and Jane Linde Capistran from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Dr. Thomas will conduct the All-State Chorus while Ms. Capistran will lead the 2014 All-State Orchestra.
During the All-State Grand Concert, the South Dakota Music Educators Association will recognize several high schools and individuals for their contributions to music in South Dakota.
The South Dakota High School Activities Association will present its “SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award” to Dr. Rick Rognstad, Vermillion, and Faye Stryzewski, Chamberlain.
Reserved seats are $16. General admission is $11 for adults and $7 for students. South Dakota Public Broadcasting will be airing the Grand Concert live on SDPB1-TV at 7:00 p.m. (CDT).