Jazz Day at DSU
The inaugural Jazz Day at Dickinson State University (DSU) was held Wednesday, Dec. 12. Over 20 students from Trinity High School and Watford City High School’s jazz bands participated. Dr. Jeremy Wohletz, assistant professor of music at Dickinson State, led a clinic for each band, and the DSU Jazz Ensemble performed for the group. To close the event, the two high school jazz bands were combined into one ensemble and practiced together, working on topics like improvisation. This gave each student a chance to shine by showing off their unique talent to their peers.
Holiday Concert
The DSU Choirs and Band, along with the Dickinson Choral Union, performed a sold-out concert at Assumption Abbey in Richardton Sunday, Dec. 9. The show featured familiar Christmas carols, selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Prokofiev’s “Midnight Sleighride,” and more. The centerpiece of the concert was Part I of Handel’s Messiah, performed by the combined DSU Chorale and Dickinson Choral Union, accompanied by an orchestra consisting of players from the Dickinson and Bismarck areas. The concert finished with “Christmas Finale,” a medley of carols featuring the combined choirs, band, orchestra and even the audience. A standing ovation was received by the performers at the show’s conclusion.
The Holiday Concert will be broadcast on Consolidated cable television channels 18 and 318 on Christmas Eve at 8:30 p.m. and Christmas Day at 2 p.m.
Northern Plains Music Festival
The 61st annual Northern Plains Music Festival was held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10. Over 160 students and their teachers traveled from 20 schools in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana to attend the event. The students performed in three ensembles: the Mixed Choir, Women’s Choir and Concert Band. They were conducted by Dr. Brent Rogers, Kelsey Rogers and Dr. Lorraine Fader, respectively. Each group performed several pieces before combining for a grand finale of three sections from Carmina Burana.
Abby Oase, a teacher at Killdeer High School, commented, “It’s great to see such young students so skilled, and having so much fun. I wish I had this when I was young!”
