USD Department of Music

10/09/2026

Today was a special day for the USD Music Department as we celebrated the incredible generosity of De and Dave Knudson with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly named De and Dave Knudson Piano & Music Technology Lab!

On behalf of our faculty, staff, and students, we extend our deepest gratitude to De and Dave for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to music education. Their gift is much more than an investment in instruments and technology. It is an investment in our students, their creativity, their education, and the future of our growing music programs.

It is difficult to put into words just how meaningful and transformative this support is for our department and the countless students who will benefit from it for years to come.

Thank you, De and Dave, for believing in our students, supporting their dreams, and making such a lasting difference in the USD music community!

10/07/2026

We are excited to welcome over 300 high school All-State Chorus members to campus today to work with our vocal faculty. We wish you good luck in your preparations for All-State at the end of the month. Stop by and see us in Rapid.

10/06/2026

Congratulations to senior Michael Arriaza for being selected to play the role of King Kaspar in "Amahl and the Night Visitors" with MOSI Opera in Wichita, Kansas! Michael is a student of Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland.

09/21/2026

We are super excited to welcome the award-winning ensemble enhakē to USD this Wednesday! Join us for an electrifying program featuring works by Schickele, Brahms, Piazzolla, John Mackey, and Alexis Ciesla. We can't wait to share this exciting performance with you! 🤩

09/14/2026

Dr. Eun-Hee Park, Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of South Dakota and pianist of the Rawlins Piano Trio, has been awarded Second Place in Piano Performance (Solo) by The American Prize, one of the nation's most prestigious performing arts competitions.

Founded in 2010, The American Prize recognizes excellence in performance, composition, conducting, and arts leadership across the United States.

The complete list of winners in the Piano Performance (Solo) division is available at:
https://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2026/08/national-winners-piano-performance-solo.html

09/07/2026

The Rawlins Keyboard Series presents Dr. Woori Kim Smith and Dr. Curtis Smith in a program featuring the complete Ballades and Scherzos of Chopin this Saturday, September 12, at 3:00 p.m. in Colton Recital Hall!🎹

09/05/2026

Congratulations to soprano Cadie Logston for advancing to the national semifinals of the Camille Coloratura Awards!  She will compete in Maryland next month for the top prizes. Cadie is a student of Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland.


07/04/2026

The USD Opera production of The Gondoliers has been named a Finalist for The American Prize in Opera Performance, and Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland has been named a Finalist for The American Prize in Opera Stage Direction. The competition continues and the winners will be announced soon. 
Congratulations to the cast, orchestra, crew, and artistic team!

06/29/2026

Wish our USD singers luck as they compete at National NATS later this week!!

Four University of South Dakota voice students have advanced to the semifinal round of the National Student Auditions sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

06/25/2026

The 2026 USD Directors Institutes have begun. We are excited to have Brian Balmages - Composer / Conductor and Dr. Andrew Last as guest clinicians this year. Welcome to all the area music teachers who are on campus.