School of Performing Arts

One only has to spend a few moments with us to realize that the School of Performing Arts functions as a family. Students experience all the benefits associated with studying at a sizable land-grant institution, but still get to know their professors on a one-on-one basis.

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Music

Led by dedicated and knowledgeable faculty, our students are challenged to do their best in their studies, whether they be applied lessons, music theory and history courses or in music ensembles.

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Theatre and Dance

Theatre and Dance at SDSU offers opportunities for all students to participate in the performing arts. Theatre majors and minors, dance minors and any interested State student may become involved in our robust schedule of productions each year.

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Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

The school enjoys excellent facilities including the new state-of-the-art Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. The Oscar is the location of the 1000-seat Larson Memorial Concert Hall, which plays host annually to some of the world’s most important classical and popular performing artists and the 225-seat Founders Recital Hall with its Reuter pipe organ.

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Mission and Vision

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Mission

The School of Performing Arts at South Dakota State University fosters and provides opportunities for creativity, performance and both artistic and intellectual understanding through the study and practice of performing arts within contemporary and historical cultures. Mindful of the university’s land-grant mission, we strive to provide outreach-engagement that creates meaningful connections among students, the university and the broader community.

Vision

The School of Performing Arts endeavors to promote the public good through experiential and collaborative opportunities in educational, creative and research activities.

Upcoming Events

Feb

12

SDSU Choral Day/In-Service Music Conference

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

Join us for a full day choral related performances, interest sessions, and clinics. Free admission to all performances. Registration required to attend all other sessions.

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Feb

12

Elementary Festival Honor Choir Concert

4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

The Elementary Festival Honor Choir is an honor choir of approximately 180 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students who are selected by recorded audition. Join them in their final concert and they…

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Feb

12

Festival of Song/SDSU Choirs Concert

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

The Festival of Song Choir is made up of high school students from around the region. Join them and members of the SDSU Choirs as they perform their concert of music they have been working on with…

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Feb

13

In-Service Music/SD Bandmasters Conference

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

Join us for a full day of instrumental-related performances, interest sessions, and clinics. Free admission to all performances. Registration required to attend all other sessions.

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Feb

13

Wind Symphony Concert

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

South Dakota State University Wind Symphony featuring Imani Winds, Jacob Wallace, conductor and Myron Peterson, guest conductor. This concert is free and open to the public.

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Accreditation

South Dakota State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (good standing reaffirmed in 2021) and the National Association of the Schools of Theatre. As a member of NASM and NAST, South Dakota State University is committed to upholding the organization’s national standards for curriculum and policy. Those standards may be found in the and the .