Arts Education Institute
July 13-16, 2026 NSU Campus
The annual Arts Education Institute (AEI) offers professional development in the arts for South Dakota teachers and pre-K-12 administrators. However, you don't have to be an educator to attend AEI - everyone is welcome to enjoy this fun-filled week of learning featuring:
- Ways to infuse the arts into classrooms
- Curriculum development
- Art, choral and music workshops
AEI is offered for up to three graduate, undergraduate or recertification credits (optional). For more information, contact Ms. Shari Kosel of Arts South Dakota or NSU's Ms. Nadya Preszler, or visit Arts South Dakota.
NSU Voice Camp
July 8-11, 2026
The NSU Voice Camp is the ideal camp for young singers in grades 7-12 who love to sing and want to learn more about their voice and the world of the singer-actor in a supportive atmosphere.
Classes
A typical day includes:
- Vocal warmups
- Health and care of your voice
- Stage deportment
- Song interpretation
- Diction for singers
- Acting
- Movement
- Small-group ensembles and choir
- Solo literature
- Musical and vocal technique
- Recreational and sociaactivitiesl
Lessons
Each student will have one voice lesson. Lessons will focus on posture, breathing, breath support, healthy production and projection of the voice.
Students are asked to bring one prepared song - a classical art song, age-appropriate aria, folk song or musical theatre selection - to camp, which will be worked on in lessons and classes. It is helpful if the song is memorized, or close to memorized. If you do not have a song to bring to camp, one will be assigned to you to work on during lessons.
For more information, contact Dr. Darci Bultema, Voice Camp director and professor of music, voice and opera; or call 605-626-2497.
Rushmore Music Camp: Junior High Week
August 2-7, 2026
Johnson Fine Arts Center
NSU Campus
Band students entering grades 6-9 are welcome to attend the Rushmore Junior High Music Camp on Northern's campus in Aberdeen. Guided by camp counselors, students stay in Northern dorms and enjoy meals in our dining hall, the Wolves' Den. The week's final concert is free and open to the public.
The camp offers many performance opportunities and individual lessons from music educators and professionals, as well as daily recreational activities. For details, visit Rushmore Music Camp.
ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PREPARING FOR SOUTH DAKOTA ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS
All high school students are welcome to attend the All-State Orchestra Workshop and learn from Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony members and Northern faculty!
- Dr. Christopher Stanichar, assistant professor of music and AUCS director, will conduct the All-State Orchestra literature in a side-by-side reading with students and AUCS musicians
- Dr. Stanichar will give hints about tempos and interpretations of the music
- Students will work on the same literature required for All-State Orchestra auditions
- Northern faculty and AUCS members will offer a question-and-answer panel and providing tips for a successful audition
Register at the door the night of the workshop. For more information, contact Dr. Stanichar.
Improve Your Audition!
September 15, 2026
Johnson Fine Arts Center
CHORAL LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
September 29, 2026
The Northern State University Choral Leadership Workshop is designed to help vocal music instructors and high school singers prepare music for South Dakota All-State Chorus. Students need not be members of All-State Chorus to participate. Experienced conductors will also present healthy vocal techniques and helpful tips about the music.
For information, please contact Dr. Timothy Woods.
NSU Band Clinic
November 4, 2026
The NSU Band Clinic is the longest-running band festival in South Dakota, and takes place in the beautiful Johnson Fine Arts Center. The festival consists of two student bands that are equal in size and balance, and includes workshops for students and directors.
The instrumentation of the bands is based on director nomination and EVERY student nominated will be chosen to participate. The nomination deadline will be announced. Late nominees may be accepted but are not guaranteed to be listed in the program.
The clinic runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with check-in from 8-9 a.m. The final concert is at 3 p.m. in the Jewett Theater of the Johnson Fine Arts Center. Lunch is on your own, although students are welcome to eat on campus in the Wolves Den.
For more information contact: audrey.miller@northern.edu.
Friends of the Arts/NSU Young Artist Competition
Northern Honors Orchestra
January 15-16, 2027
Johnson Fine Arts Center
at Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD
This two day intensive orchestral experience will include string sectionals, private lessons for each student, rehearsals and a final concert on Saturday afternoon.
Annual South Dakota Jazz Festival
March 4, 2027
Start your jazz festival season at Northern! The South Dakota Jazz Festival will be held in Johnson Fine Arts Center at Northern State University. Vocal jazz, combos, and big bands are welcome to participate in competitive and non-competitive categories to best serve musicians and music educators.
Ensembles eligible to perform at the festival
- Big Band: A minimum of nine instrumental musicians performing with the traditional big band part assignments
- Jazz Combo: A maximum of eight musicians - usually with at least a bass, drums, and piano or guitar. Including instrumentalists or solo singers is very common.
- Vocal Jazz Ensemble/Swing Choir: A vocal ensemble that performs jazz with a minimum of dancing. (No show choirs, please)
- Details and Rules
Contacts
Dr. Grant Manhart, grant.manhart@northern.edu, 605-626-2982
The 32nd Annual NSU High School Art Day and Exhibition Awards
The NSU Art Department is hosting the 33rd Annual High School Art Day and Exhibition Awards on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This year we are doing something a little bit different! This High School Art Day will be focused on murals, being a day of artistic creation, collaboration, and competition for high school students. As always, we will continue to host our High School Art Exhibition virtually. Please sign-up below!
Registration is open until October 16, 2026.
For more information, contact Epiphany Knedler
NSU High School Art Exhibition
https://forms.gle/Q4hjwbJTzrtpwHDYA
The 32nd Annual NSU High School Art Invitational Exhibition will be held ONLINE. There is no limit on students per school, and each student can upload 2 art works for the exhibition. The top 50 entries will be posted to the NSU Art Department Facebook page and awards will be given to the top seven places. Awards will be announced November 3.
For more information, contact Epiphany Knedler
High School Mural Competition - November 3, 2026
https://forms.gle/qs6yK1RfFR4S6DzMA
We welcome you to include up to ten of your most outstanding and deserving students to visit campus and take part in this competition presented by the NSU faculty. Each school’s art team can consist of 2 to 5 art students who will compete against other schools by painting a 36” x 60” mural according to the theme announced at the beginning of the competition. Schools can provide up to two teams. Awards will be announced at the end of the day.
For more information, contact Epiphany Knedler