Choirs at SDSU
Jackrabbits have been singing both formally and informally on campus since “Professor Parker” organized the first Choral Society in 1881. Over the years, the SDSU choral program has grown to include a full array of activities including a mixed chorus, a men’s chorus and a women’s chorus. The modern era of the SDSU Choral program came to fruition under the leadership and direction of Robert Wright, Charles Canaan and Steven Grives. Under their direction, these ensembles toured the great concert halls of Europe, performed for major conferences and through their performances brought international recognition to the University.
Three choirs currently perform under the direction of today’s choral staff. The directors are recognized for their experience in training and lead young voices in the choral art. Broad knowledge of both the masterworks of the repertoire and new music make SDSU’s Choral ensembles a vibrant arena for young singers to perfect their musical craft. In particular, the SDSU Choir’s biennial Christmasse Madrigal Feastes and annual Yuletide concerts are important University traditions.
Concert Choir
The 70 member Concert choir serves as the ambassadorial choral ensemble of the Music Department at South Dakota State University. Comprising SDSU's most gifted and talented vocalists; membership in the Concert Choir is contingent upon excellence in musicianship, vocal artistry and dedication. This ensemble provides vibrant, pre-professional ensemble training for the next generation of qualified singers, choral music educators and talented choral enthusiasts and performs noteworthy choral repertoire from throughout the Western Music canon, with emphasis on unaccompanied works, recently composed works and baroque and classical masterworks. The Concert Choir is recognized in the North Central Region for having performed on the State and Regional American Choral Directors Association Conferences and for tours both here in the United States and abroad.
The Concert Choir has in the past several years performed in New York City, Washington D.C., Great Britain, Bavaria and Spain and now Italy. While abroad, they performed in some of the most famous cathedrals of London, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Madrid, Segovia and Barcelona. The most recent overseas excursion was in March 2016 when the ensemble traveled and performed across Spain and especially the exquisite Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain. The concert choir is humbled and honored to be performing at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican and at the Basilica of St. Francesco d’Assisi during our 2019 tour of Italy.
The Concert Choir is directed by Dr. Laura Diddle.
Choralia Women's Chorus
Choralia is a 120-voice treble ensemble that performs music specifically composed or arranged for female voices. The group is open to any interested female singer on campus, regardless of major. Its ranks include students from nearly every academic major on campus.
Choralia can be heard in the concert hall, at alumni events and in the Brookings community. They have performed at the South Dakota and North Central regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. Choralia also hosts the “Festival of Women’s Voices,” an event that brings over 150 high school female singers to campus to work with a nationally-recognized guest conductor.
Choralia has embarked on both national and international tours, including recent programs in Nashville, Tennessee; as well as Russia, where they performed in St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Moscow.
Membership is open to all female university students and meets at 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
Choralia is directed by Dr. Laura Diddle.
The Statesmen Men's Chorus
The SDSU Statesmen have been recognized as one of the finest collegiate men's choruses in the upper Midwest. The group is open to any interested male singer on campus, regardless of major. Its ranks include students from nearly every academic major on campus.
The Statesmen have toured Canada, and have performed at the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses Seminar, the South Dakota ACDA and the South Dakota In-Service Music Conference. They have performed at the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses Seminar and the SD In-Service Choral Day in Brookings. The Statesmen also host the "Festival of Male Voices," an event that brings over 100 high school male singers to campus to work with a nationally-recognized guest conductor.
Membership is open to all male university students and meets at 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Statesmen are directed by Dr. Andrew Robinette.