All-State Band is an auditioned group consisting of students from around the entire state of South Dakota. Students in this ensemble perform in one of two bands, the Lewis band or the Clark band. Repetoire is selected by the guest conductors and practiced over the course of a two-day time span. 

This year, the all-state band performance is March 29th, 2025 in Watertown, South Dakota. 

For more information regarding the event or tickets, please visit their website.

All-State Jazz is an auditioned group that the consists of jazz musicians throughout the state of Souta Dakota. Typical instrumentation inclues, saxophones, trombones, trumpets, drumset, piano, guitar and bass guitar. The student will record their audition consisting of etudes and optional improvisation solos to be sent to a judge. If selected, they will participate in a three day event with a concert to follow. Selections are chosen by the guest director. This year the All-State Jazz performance is May 10th in Mitchell, South Dakota. 

If you would like further information about the event, please visit the SDHSAA website.

All-State is an auditioned group that the students prepare for outside of the school day. The students then travel to Huron to audition in front of a judge. If selected, they participate in a two day event with a concert at the end of the night. More information can be found in this link. This year the All-State Orchestra performance is November 2nd in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  

This honor band is a non-auditioned group in which the students first nominate themselves, then will be nominated again by directors. Once selected by the festival, students are placed in one of four performing ensembles, Gold Band, Blue Band, Viking Band and Honor Band. This year the concert is November 9th, held in the Mary Sommervold Hall at the Washington Pavilion. 

Further information is on the Augustana website. 

The Annual Quad State Honor Band Festival brings together the finest high school musicians from the quad state region. Students selected to participate will have the opportunity to work with USD Director of Athletic Bands, Dr. Todd Cranson, and USD Director of Orchestral Studies, Dr. Luis Viquez. Additionally, ALL students will have the opportunity to work with guest composer/conductor Andres Soto and perform world premieres of pieces written by Soto for the Festival!

In addition to full-ensemble rehearsals, students will have master classes with the USD Department of Music applied faculty and enjoy a performance by the USD Symphonic Band. The festival concludes Saturday afternoon with a finale concert featuring both honor ensembles in Aalfs Auditorium.

The Quad State Honor Band Festival will take place Friday & Saturday, January 31 & February 1st, 2025 on the USD Campus. Deadline to submit recoded applications will be released shortly. 

For more information, please visit the USD website.

High school students from throughout the region (South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and North Dakota) apply to participate in this Honor Band Festival, to be held on February 21-22, 2025. The SDSU Honor Band Festival is designed to be an exceptional honor band experience for talented students and is sure to be a memorable time for all those involved!

Students who play the following instruments are invited to apply: piccolo, flute, oboe, bassoon, B-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, French horn, trumpet, tenor trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, string bass and percussion (mallet, battery/auxiliary and timpani). String bass and piano auditions will also be considered, depending on repertoire selected by the conductors.

For more information, please visit this website.