Music Home Music Faculty Choral Ensembles Instrumental Ensembles Community Ensembles Student Organizations Dept of Fine and Performing Arts Financial Aid

Instrumental Ensembles

The instrumental ensembles consist of Concert Band, Marching Band, Woodwind Ensemble, Color Guard, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Drumline and the Badlands Brass Ensemble.

Dr. Steve Werpy is the Director of the Marching Band, Woodwind Ensemble Color Guard and Concert Band. He is an Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at DSU and can be reached in room 41 of May Hall or by calling (701) 483-2596.

Marching Band
During the fall semester, the Marching Band provides exciting music and drill designs during the football season. This ensemble was formed in 1999 and has enjoyed many successes including touring performances at high schools, other universities and a National Parade in Washington, D.C.

Woodwind Ensembles
The various woodwind and chamber ensembles enhance the participant’s musicianship by improving listening skills, learning performance aspects of specific musical styles and deepen his/her performance of music. Woodwind Ensembles include: Saxophone Quartet, Saxophone Choir and Woodwind Quintet. The Saxophone Choir, started in 2002, is a community ensemble that is open to all who wish to participate, regardless of age. All ensemble times are arranged.
 
Color Guard
Color Guard performs as an auxiliary unit with the DSU Marching Band in the fall semester. They incorporate flags and other elements of marching and dance to highlight each marching band show with exciting visual effects. Routines are choreographed according to the style of each piece being performed and many elements of the routines are developed by the student's themselves.

During the spring semester, the Color Guard meets twice a week to train and recruit new members.  The team attends public school and on-campus performances.  

Any student may join Color Guard, with or without musical ensemble experience. Members meet during the regular band rehearsal time and receive credit and a stipend for their efforts.

Concert Band
Concert Band is an ensemble of select wind and percussion instruments performing traditional and contemporary literature. The ensemble plays a vital role in campus activities performing formal concerts and graduation ceremonies. The Concert Band is open to all students on campus and meets twice a week.

Jazz Band
Jazz Band is an ensemble that performs a variety of contemporary jazz literature including pop, be-bop, rock, swing, Dixieland, and Latin. Piano and guitar majors may count Jazz Band as a large ensemble. Open to all students, the Jazz Band meets Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Cindy Abts is the Director of the Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble and Drumline.  She is an Instructor of Music at DSU and can be reached in room 43 of May Hall or by calling (701) 483-2557.

Percussion Ensemble
The Percussion Ensemble performs a variety of standard and contemporary literature utilizing traditional Western and world percussion instruments. This group is open to all students. Meeting times are Monday and Wednesday.

Drumline
The Drumline performs with the university's marching band in the fall and continues as a Winter Drumline for the rest of the year. Members of this ensemble will continue to develop marching percussion techniques throughout the school year. Performances include half-time shows at basketball games, presentations at area schools as well as informal and formal concerts. This ensemble rehearses on Fridays and is open to all students.

Badlands Brass
The Badlands Brass Ensemble consists primarily of brass players majoring in music. The ensemble is augmented with percussionists performing traditional music for brass and percussion. Its mission is to promote brass performance among young players in the elementary school systems.

The Badlands Brass Ensemble offers significant amounts in scholarships toward tuition and are unique to brass performance. Badlands Brass Scholarship auditions are held by appointment. 

James Thornton is the Director of the Badlands Brass Ensemble.  He is an Instructor of Music at DSU and can be reached in room 41 of May Hall or by calling (701) 483-2308.