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Home ― News ― Music at DSU concert April 7

Music at DSU concert April 7

March 28, 2019

Dakota State University musical groups, the TroGin and Tonic band, DSU Concert Choir, and DSU Voices will perform a free spring concert “Monsters, Myths, Music,” on Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. at Dakota Prairie Playhouse.

The show will incorporate some fun, creepy songs performed by the musical acts including some pieces the concert choir performed for the DSU Theater production of “Frankenstein.”

 “We’ve been preparing some of the songs since fall,” said Sandy Champion, director of music programs/instructor at DSU. “Each group only gets one rehearsal a week.”

Every Tuesday the band practices for one hour, followed by DSU voices for about two hours, while the concert choir practices for at least an hour on Thursdays, according to Champion.

In addition to the about 50 students participating in the three musical clubs at DSU, two students have assisted with this program in other ways.

Kristen Sieck, junior digital arts and design digital sound design/audio production major from Onida, S.D., is a student director. Sieck auditioned for the role; she studies conducting, music theory, score interpretations, and arrangement with Champion.

Layne Meyers, a senior computer science major from Viborg, S.D., reharmonized and arranged “Amazing Grace,” for the concert choir. The arrangement will be featured in the concert and Meyers will conduct the piece.

DSU music offers a creative outlet for students outside of the classroom, something Champion and students find very important.

Champion said, “these kids are good enough that they could have gone into a musical program.” While the students chose a different career when they enrolled at DSU these clubs give students a social and artistic outlet.

John Townsend, a senior computer science and math major from Tea, S.D., said many students have artistic outlets and having people to “jam with,” can help relieve stress from schoolwork and jobs. “Music allows us to express ourselves, our joy, and our frustrations in a healthy, and extremely satisfying way. While we are cultivating these new skills, we become more well-rounded individuals,” he said.

Holly Sando, a sophomore double majoring in digital arts and design production animation and computer graphics from Colton, S.D., believes that clubs outside of the classroom enable students to be more creative. “Having artistic outlets outside of class means we are able to express ourselves in any way that we want and let our creativity run wild,” she said.

Champion invites the public to attend the event.

“You can’t really find humans who don’t have a musical attachment,” Champion said. “Take this opportunity to come experience something live and be inspired.”