Ensembles

Enrollment options for each ensemble are listed below, but additional options may apply. Contact the instructor of the ensemble or view the course catalog for specifics. MUEN courses allow students to receive various kinds of credit for singing or playing in a music ensemble. Non-credit options allow students to enroll at no cost. MUS courses include traditional lecture courses as well as hybrid courses unique to South Dakota Mines that combine performance and research.  

University Band

The South Dakota Mines University Band is a non-auditioned instrumental concert band that meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm to study music ranging from traditional marches to modern band compositions. The ensemble performs at least one concert per semester. Open to community members as well as South Dakota Mines students, staff and faculty. Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information.

Wind Ensemble

Wind Ensemble is an auditioned, one-on-a-part, concert band. Started in Fall 2017, this ensemble allows the top wind, brass and percussion students to perform classic concert band repertoire and orchestral transcriptions at a very high level as well as exploring new compositions and modern music. The Wind Ensemble meets on Tuesday and Thursday from 5 - 6:15pm to rehearse and performs on-and off-campus several times each semester. Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information.

Jazz Ensemble

Various forms of jazz ensembles have existed at the institution since the 1970s. Quite often, members of the Jazz Band have formed smaller jazz combos to improve their music experience. The full Jazz Ensemble meets on Monday and Wednesday from 5-6:15pm to rehearse and performs on- and off-campus several times each semester. Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information.

Hard Rocker Pep Band

The Hard Rocker Pep band performs on the sidelines for South Dakota Mines Football, Volleyball and Basketball games is a big part of the campus culture that is Mines! This student organization is completely student run including five officer positions and student conductors. Any wind instruments is welcome to try out as well as any percussionist for our full drumline. Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information.

Chamber Ensembles

BRASS CHOIR/HONORS BRASS: An auditioned instrumental ensemble for brass instruments, the Brass Choir and Honors Brass specializes in music written or arranged specifically for brass instruments and performs for the South Dakota Mines Spring commencement as well as other events on campus and in the community. Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information. 

STRING THEORY: An auditioned, small chamber string group that is student run and performs high level music in the community including the South Dakota Mines Fall commencement. Contact Ms. Schnittgrund for more information.

OTHER: Various other small ensembles from jazz combos and a Dixieland band to the South Dakota Mines Honors Brass quintet run at the interested of the students at Mines. Want to start a group of your own?!? Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information. 

University Orchestra

South Dakota Mines' large string ensemble is open to students, faculty and community members. The University Orchestra meets on Tuesday evenings in the Music Center, 7:00-9:00 pm. Literature ranges from chamber music to larger orchestral works. Contact Ms. Schnittgrund  for more information.

University Choir

University Choir is a large, non-auditioned, mixed-voice ensemble that meets on Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Open to South Dakota Mines students, faculty and community members, the University Choir focuses on the vocal/musical development of the individual singer while providing quality musical experiences. Contact Dr. Gerrit Scheepers at gerrit.scheepers@sdsmt.edu for more information.

Concert Choir

The Concert Choir is an auditioned, mixed voice ensemble that has a reputation for excellent performances locally and world-wide, earning first-place awards in international choral competition and drawing large crowds at its highly-anticipated concerts in Rapid City each year. The elite ensemble showcases the commitment and skills of vocalists at Mines and students will also experience tremendous musical growth each semester. The Concert Choir meets on Monday and Wednesday from 6:30-7:45pm to rehearse and performs on-and off-campus several times each semester. Contact Dr. Gerrit Scheepers at gerrit.scheepers@sdsmt.edu for more information.

The Singing Engineers

The Singing Engineers is South Dakota Mines' premiere vocal ensemble. An award-winning group, all members must be outstanding vocal musicians and in either University Choir or Concert Choir. The choir performs everything from Gregorian chant to vocal pop music, and makes appearances at professional music conferences, alumni chapter events, and prestigious venues in the US and in Europe. Contact Dr. Gerrit Scheepers at gerrit.scheepers@sdsmt.edu  for more information.

Music In Performance, Upper Division Humanities Course

In coordination with our large ensembles, Music in Performance is now offered as a topics course for students interested in examining deeper thinking through music and the impact music has on the world.  Available for one credit, students, are required to participate in University Band, University Orchestra, University Choir, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble or Concert Choir and write program notes for the ensemble they are in. Additionally, students enrolled meet 4-5 additional times a semester to discuss topics in music connecting the entire music center regardless of instrument or voice type. Contact Dr. Haley Armstrong haley.armstrong@sdsmt.edu for more information.