Black Hills State University is proud to be fully accredited by the National Association
of Schools of Music. Students benefit from the expertise of faculty performers, composers,
and conductors in state-of-the-art facilities, learning through coursework, private
instruction, and ensembles. The Music Department at BHSU places nearly one hundred
percent of its graduates in music education positions or graduate programs in music.
The BHSU music program provides the diversity a student wants and the individual attention
a student needs. Our department offers majors in music composite and music education,
as well as a minor in music and certificates in piano pedagogy and guitar. Our ensemble
offerings include the Dakota Chamber Orchestra, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Northern
Hills Chamber Chorale, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Honeycomb Brass, Pep
Band, the Beeline Drumline, Opera Workshop, and other chamber ensembles. Students
will have ample opportunities to perform on campus, locally, and in the greater Midwest
region.
The Music Department is housed in Clare and Josef Meier Hall. Music facilities include
a beautiful recital hall, private faculty and student studios, practice rooms with
pianos, an electronic keyboard lab, large rehearsal rooms, and music classrooms.
The mission of the music program at Black Hills State University is to provide a comprehensive,
practical, and current program of study in the area of music as well as to give students
a variety of opportunities to study music within the context of a broad liberal arts
education.
The goal of the Music Program of Black Hills State University is to provide students
with opportunities for aesthetic development in the areas of musical perception, knowledge,
and performance. It is the philosophy of this music program that music is a shared
human experience, and a cooperative educational environment is essential to the growth
of overall musical sensitivity. Thus, music students and faculty seek to enhance their
musical understanding together through group performances and learning experiences
as well as through the individual study necessary for the refinement of personal artistry
and creative expression.
BHSU is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Acquire a functional knowledge of the language and grammar of music
Expand knowledge of traditional and contemporary musical styles through listening
experiences and performance activities (ensemble and individual)
Develop the ability to identify aurally and visually the elements of music (rhythm,
melody, harmony, tone color, dynamics, texture, form)
Develop the following competencies in at least one major area of musical concentration
(instrument or voice):
technical skills adequate to meet the needs of artistic self-expression
the ability to read at sight
participation in large and small ensemble performance
solo performance of a wide variety of musical styles
improvisational and compositional skills of a type and level appropriate to the area
of concentration
Acquire a level of functional keyboard skills appropriate to the area of concentration
Acquire conducting and rehearsal skills adequate to demonstrate an understanding of
musical interpretation in the context of group performance
Develop the ability to place compositions in historical and stylistic perspective
Develop maturity in musical analysis and critical evaluation
Develop a knowledge of K-12 vocal and instrumental teaching methodologies and materials,
as well as the role of music education in our society
Admission
If you wish to pursue a major in music, you must pass a music proficiency audition
at the end of your sophomore year and/or before entering 300 level applied lessons.
Prospective students need to complete an application before they will be accepted
into the music degree program.
It is recommended that if you choose to major in music, you declare that decision
to your advisor your freshman year. All students considering a music major should
have a music faculty member as an advisor. No special admission is required to pursue
a music minor. To start the admissions process, simplyapply online or call us at1.800.ALL.BHSUfor more information.
Music Scholarship Application
Auditions are held in February. Freshmen and new applicants must perform live auditions
or record two contrasting pieces and send to the BHSU music department by.
Music Scholarship recipients represent excellence in music as evidenced by experience
in music and demonstrated commitment to playing an instrument and/or singing. Live
auditions are held in February of each year. However, you may submit a video audition
or a link directing us to your YouTube video for consideration. If possible, perform
works or excerpts in two contrasting styles. Early deadline is Scholarship applications are accepted year-round for the upcoming Fall class (scholarships
awarded based on scholarship dollars available). Preference will be given to Music
Majors and Minors.
Friends of Music is a non-profit organization committed to providing support for the Music Department
at Black Hills State University. They are dedicated to promoting musical excellence
by supporting the BHSU music programs. Their main function is to support music scholarships;
all Friends of Music funds are used to support Friends of Music Scholarships. The
recipients of the Friends of Music scholarships are selected each year by the BHSU
music faculty.
They are dedicated in promoting musical excellence in our community and support musical
performances at Clare & Joseph Meier Hall and other local venues, in support of music
education at Black Hills State and the entire Black Hills region. Friends of Music
is proud to be a part of one of the finest small university music programs in the
United States.
Learn more about theFriends of Music, and how you can get involved.
Broadcast Performances
BHSU livestreams most of its ensemble performances on YouTube, with links posted to
the BHSU Music page on Facebook. Audio is recorded and archived for all concerts and
recitals, and students can request a livestream for recitals at no charge.
Ensembles
Black Hills State University offers numerous performing groups within the music program.
The student ensembles offer concerts each semester, and Senior recitals are performed
by individual music students each semester. In addition, faculty members perform regularly
and the music program often sponsors concerts or workshops by well-known performers,
both on and off campus. All performing groups are open to students from any area of
study; however, admission to some is based on audition.
The BHSU Concert Choir is open to all Black Hills State University students and faculty.
The choir performs a varied repertoire, both accompanied and a cappella, from Renaissance motets to American spirituals, as well as larger works. For more
information, contact Jonathan.Nero@BHSU.edu.
The Northern Hills Chamber Chorale is a non-auditioned mixed ensemble that performs
mainly large works and choral cycles. The ensemble comprises BHSU students and community
singers from the area. For more information, contact Jonathan.Nero@BHSU.edu.
A cappella repertoire that varies from 16th-Century madrigals to contemporary pop and jazz arrangements.
For more information, contact Jonathan.Nero@BHSU.edu.
Expand your skills in orchestral performance with the Dakota Chamber Orchestra. The
Orchestra includes strings, winds, brass, and percussion, and performs everything
from classical masterworks to popular music, often featuring guest soloists from the
greater Black Hills region. The group meets Thursday nights from 7–9 pm and is open
to students and the community. For more information about the Dakota Chamber Orchestra
contactSkye.VanDuuren@BHSU.edu.
The BHSU Jazz Ensemble is a small, auditioned ensemble specializing in a wide variety
of jazz and popular styles. The Jazz Ensemble is a versatile group and meets as a
big band as well as small combos. For more information, contact Skye.VanDuuren@BHSU.edu.
BHSU is home to several smaller chamber ensembles such as the Honeycomb Brass, Flute
Choir, and Clarinet Choir. These groups serve as specialized training for the most
advanced instrumental students at BHSU, and are a great resource for community outreach
and live music for local events such as weddings, birthday parties, etc. For more
information, contact Skye.VanDuuren@BHSU.edu.
The Wind Ensemble is an auditioned instrumental ensemble consisting of BHSU students
whose focus is the performance of high-level wind band literature. The Wind Ensemble
regularly performs for and works with instrumental music students at regional middle
and high schools. For more information, contact David.Berberick@BHSU.edu or (605)644-2641.
The Concert Band is a large ensemble open to students of all majors and community
members interested in enhancing their musical and performance skills. For more information,
contact David.Berberick@BHSU.edu or (605)644-2641.
The Black Hills State University Pep Band is a small ensemble that plays at BHSU sporting
events. Drawing from famous band tunes, pop music, and even television themes, the
Pep Band performs crowd favorites in a casual atmosphere. Students who participate
in Pep Band are eligible for additional scholarship money. For more information, contact David.Berberick@BHSU.edu or (605)644-2641.
The Beeline Drumline is a group of percussion instruments that performs at many athletic
events and other events throughout the year. Learn new techniques and broaden your
musical experience by joining the Beeline. For more information, contactDavid.Berberick@BHSU.edu or(605)644-2641.
The Clare & Josef Meier Hall
The BHSU music program is proud to be housed in one of the finest music performance
and education facilities in the region, Clare and Josef Meier Hall. Completed in, it is a beautiful and impressive 3-story building. All music rooms in the building
were designed to maximize student music learning.
The first floor of the building includes a 260-seat recital hall, 15 student practice
rooms with windows, an acoustically-treated band room and choir room, several large
teaching studios, a special elementary music classroom, and lockers exclusively for
music student use. Meier Hall’s ample private practice space alleviates the “practice
room crunch” that plagues many universities, allowing you to practice at times that
fit into your schedule. The second floor of the building contains additional classrooms,
a keyboard and computer lab, a recording studio, a video/recording library, and a
study area. Meier Hall also houses the music department's instrument and music technology
rental inventory, available for students to borrow at no cost.
Pianos are available in each rehearsal room, studio, and practice room for general
use, and the Recital Hall houses our Steinway and Yamaha grand pianos for performances.
All classrooms are equipped with a computer, stereo systems, DVD players, video and
document projectors, and a whiteboard, with SMART Boards available in some classrooms.
Students who are enrolled in music classes are issued a card that provides access
to the building and all its amenities on evenings and weekends. The Meier Recital Hall shines as one of the most elegant performance venues in the
region. The hall hosts all music program recitals and performances, giving students
the opportunity to perform regularly in a cutting edge performance hall without ever
leaving campus. Meier Hall is a standout venue to hone your skills on a stage that
rivals any professional hall. Contact us to tour the facilities and start your journey
to a music degree at BHSU today. 1-800-ALL-BHSU.
Madrigal Dinner
BHSU Music Department Presents...
A Madrigal Dinner
Audiences will be treated to a full evening of food, music, and theatrical entertainment
in Clare and Josef Meier Hall at BHSU’s presentation of “A Madrigal Dinner." The Madrigal
Dinner is an annual fund-raising event for BHSU’s music department featuring a small
ensemble of 16 singers that specializes in performing early music each Fall semester.
The singers, in Renaissance garb, will portray a sixteenth-century king, queen, and
court who have invited the audience to a Christmas feast in the castle’s great hall,
complete with a recorder ensemble, herald trumpeters, a murder mystery, and a post-dinner
concert. During the dinner portion of the evening, the court and the court jester
will present a program with performances of several contemporary and traditional carols
including “The Boar’s Head Carol,” “A Wassail Song,” and of course, “Silent Night.”
The concert will feature works from Renaissance composers Adrian Willeart, William
Byrd, John Wilbye, and others.
2024 Madrigal Dinner
Dates: ,, and
Dinner begins at 6:30 with a social hour at 5:30
Cost: $60 per plate
Please make reservations by filling out the form below and if you have questions about
reservations call Katherine Kemp at (605)642-6420, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon - Fri.
