USF Music Department

Music

USF

Department

“

Music is a fair and glorious gift of God...I am strongly persuaded that after theology, there is no art that can be placed on a level with music.

—Martin Luther

”

“

Music

usf

Taryn Sahli, Rapid City, S.D. nursing, ‘13 When playing an instrument, you cannot be timid.

The USF music professors have given me that confidence.

At A Glance

”

A 178 percent increase in declared music majors since fall 2007 Two bachelor’s degrees and a minor in music Three instrumental ensembles Three vocal ensembles Music scholarships available for majors and non-majors Local, domestic and international touring and service Renaissance-themed Madrigal tradition since 1964 Dedicated faculty

“ 1

Lindsay Reinhardt, Vancouver, Wash.

English and theology/philosophy, ‘11 The amount of talent in the music department is amazing.

The faculty welcomes students into the music family and reinforces that each is necessary for the success of the whole.

The choir has been a great place to experience challenging music, wonderful people and a Godly environment.

The goal is to worship Christ with the gifts He has given us.

2

Music Majors and Minor Our course of study for a bachelor’s degree in music or music education promotes the skill and artistic growth utilized in performance-oriented careers and in the fields of music education, church music and more.

Our alumni are highly respected and valued in K-12 education and professional performance—one of our graduates sings with the Metropolitan Opera. rea superintendents and principals seek our music A education graduates—we’ve had a 100 percent placement rate since 2006 for music education.

Students individually study with instructors who are instrument and voice specialists.

Performance opportunities include studio classes, senior recitals, chapel services and more.

Ensembles Ensembles are the hallmark of our department. Greater student involvement and campus enthusiasm makes this an exciting time to be part of USF music.

• Wind Ensemble • Jazz Ensemble • Chamber Strings

• Concert Chorale • Singing Camerata • Cantare

Scholarships Our 2010-2011 music scholarship auditions will be held November 20 and February 19.

To register, call the admissions office at (800) 888-1047, visit us online at usiouxfalls.edu/music or email us at campus.visits@usiouxfalls.edu.

“

If you can’t make the above audition dates, contact a music faculty member to schedule an audition (see pages 11-13 for contact info).

At USF, it’s hard not to get involved.

For me, it’s music.

Whether it’s listening to the Jazz band play in Java City, practicing with the strings ensemble or singing in the choir, music will always be part of my life.

3

”

Brittany Kurtenbach, Gillette, Wyo. music education, ‘13

4

Concert Chorale Tours Italy, Discovers Universal Language of Music They toured the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum and the worldrenowned La Scala opera house. They saw original works of art by Michelangelo, Donatello and Bernini. And they performed in historic cathedrals, halls and churches nearly every day as they traveled through Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice and Milan.

A dream vacation? Yes. But for the members of the University of Sioux Falls Concert Chorale on a 10-day J-term trip to Italy, it was also an unbelievable learning experience.

That’s because studying the greats is one thing. Being in the presence of them is quite another. It’s an experience that simply cannot be replicated by text in a book.

“Being in places that have been around for thousands and thousands of years is incredible,” says Micah Schiller, a senior criminal justice major from Sergeant Bluffs, Iowa. “We soaked up everything.”

Traveling simply broadens horizons and opens minds – it’s far more than just a stamp on a passport.

“Traveling internationally allows students to learn and grow in a real-world setting where they can apply the things they learn in the classroom,” says Corbin Plooster, a senior biology and chemistry major from Platte, S.D. “Italy has such a rich history to take in, and by seeing it in person you develop a great appreciation and understanding of the hard work and skill involved in creating everything around you.”

But the students weren’t simply tourists in Italy. They were also performers, singing “Gloria” for Giacomo Mezzalira, composer of the piece, in the Milan Duomo; singing a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, home to Michelangelo’s Pietà; and even performing for Pope Benedict XVI at a Papal Audience. These performances provided rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the students to raise their voices in praise in some of the oldest and most awe-inspiring houses of worship in the world.

performing locally, domestically and internationally

“To see tears in the eyes of newly made friends as they listened to our rendition of an Italian folk song, and to sing the music of Gabrieli and Monteverdi in the cathedral for which it was written are experiences that provide opportunities for understanding and appreciation which students cannot gain in any classroom,” says Dr. David DeHooghKliewer, assistant professor of music and director of choral music at USF.

International travel occurs every two years, alternating between the Concert Chorale and the Wind Ensemble.

Music, they found, crosses cultural differences.

The Concert Chorale will participate in a 2011 spring tour trip of Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

5

“Seeing the looks on people’s faces, enjoying them praising God with us—that was incredible,” Schiller says. “God truly shattered the boundaries of language.”

6

Hear, ye! Hear, ye!

Madrigal tradition

Join the

at USF

An annual series of Renaissance-themed Christmas dinner theater performances, the Madrigals became a University of Sioux Falls tradition when established in 1964 by Professor Emeritus Lois Harchanko. One of the longest-standing and strongest traditions associated with USF, the Madrigal performances feature the strengths of the Singing Camerata and the talents of numerous instrumentalists.

Madrigal guests are treated to a delicious four-course meal and entertained with jokes, dramatic sketches, songs, solos, instrumental music, dances and a court jester. Held in the Ward Lobby of the McDonald University Center, the evening begins with a musical reception, after which students, in elegant Renaissance costumes, escort dinner guests to the festively decorated Salsbury Dining Hall for a Christmas feast. It’s a USF holiday experience to remember!

“

USF was the right fit for me because of the professors.

They’re intelligent, kind and care about each student.

They make you believe you can do anything if you’re willing to work hard and study diligently.

7

”

Gary Kashale, Sioux Falls, S.D. theology/philosophy and psychology, ‘11

8

Life

on Campus

MISSION The traditional motto of the university is Culture for Service— we seek to foster academic excellence and the development of mature Christian persons for service to God and humankind in the world.

STUDENTS More than 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students attend USF. More than 90 percent come from the Midwest and 15 percent are Lutheran, 14 percent are Catholic, 13 percent are Baptist, 6 percent are Reformed and a variety of denominations comprise the remaining 52 percent.

ACADEMICS USF offers 33 academic majors and 7 pre-professional programs.

STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO 15:1

FACULTY More than 76 percent of full-time faculty members have earned their doctorate or equivalent degrees.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE More than 97 percent of our students receive some type of financial aid, ranging from scholarships to loans.

“

CAMPUS LIFE

I believe it’s my whole USF education that will help me achieve my dream of law school.

Small class sizes have made it easy to interact and know my professors, and my involvement in theatre and music has made my USF experience fun and meaningful.

9

”

More than 50 clubs, teams and organizations exist on campus, and a full calendar of campus events makes it easy for students to get involved.

ATHLETICS USF has made application to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and hopes to gain full membership in both NCAA Division II and the NSIC beginning fall 2012.

Kari Barfoth, Sioux Falls, S.D. English and history, ‘12

10

Music

Faculty

Dr. David DeHoogh-Kliewer

Nancy Wilcoxson

(605) 331-6629 dave.dk@usiouxfalls.edu

(605) 331-6668 nancy.wilcoxson@usiouxfalls.edu

Dr. David DeHoogh-Kliewer is a baritone himself, but what he relishes even more than a solo is a chance to bring together an entire choir. And that’s just what makes him an ideal director of choral activities and assistant professor of music, a position he’s held at USF since 2006.

There’s no fooling the well-trained ear of Nancy Wilcoxson—it only takes a few notes for her to distinguish a superior singing voice from one that needs her help. A seasoned vocal and ensemble clinician, Wilcoxson is sought out for her expertise as a voice teacher, and she’s served countless times as a judge for contests across South Dakota, including those for the state’s highlyregarded honor choir and the Music Teachers National Association.

director of choral activities assistant professor of music

DeHoogh-Kliewer’s leadership of USF’s flagship choir, the Concert Chorale, and its elite counterpart, the Singing Camerata, combines his love of vocal music with his enthusiasm for travel. The assistant professor has led the Concert Chorale on tours across the Midwest, and, thanks to his direction, the group had the opportunity to perform in early 2010 throughout Italy, including performances in Venice’s St. Mark’s Cathedral and a special performance for the Pope in Vatican City. Likewise, DeHoogh-Kliewer has secured attractive opportunities for the Singing Camerata, taking that group on a tour of Budapest, Vienna and Prague in 2008. He’s also responsible for directing the Madrigal dinner performances that have become a hallmark of the holidays at USF. DeHoogh-Kliewer is just as at ease in the classroom, where he is well-served by a doctoral degree in choral conducting from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in vocal music education from the University of South Dakota and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. Before making the switch to higher education, the assistant professor accrued 11 years of experience teaching in the public school system. At USF, DeHoogh-Kliewer teaches courses in music education, music theory and conducting.

DeHoogh-Kliewer’s commitment to his profession goes beyond campus. He’s a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, enjoys conducting choral festivals and facilitates the Music Educators National Conference college chapter.

director of vocal music assistant professor of music

Wilcoxson is a long-standing member of USF’s faculty, joining its ranks on a parttime basis in 1988. She accepted her current full-time role as assistant professor of vocal music in 2006. Wilcoxson traces her professional roots back to the University and the program she now helps guide — she received her undergraduate degree from USF before going on to earn her master’s degree from the University of South Dakota. Wilcoxson is ABD from the University of Northern Colorado.

At USF Wilcoxson directs the mixed chorus Cantare and teaches a variety of courses that capitalize on her proficiency in vocal music, vocal diction, vocal pedagogy and music history.

Wilcoxson has a long-held interest in opera, another skill she brings to USF as she teaches students to perform and direct her favorite genre. The assistant professor serves as vice president of Sounds of South Dakota, an organization committed to promoting opera within the state and the region, and is an active member of both the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Music Teachers National Association.

Wilcoxson has been married to husband Kirby for more than 30 years. The couple has two daughters, Nicole and Danielle.

DeHoogh-Kliewer and wife Michelle have two daughters, Hannah and Emma.

11

12

Music Faculty

Music

Support

Dr. Jonathan Neiderhiser

at USF

director of instrumental music assistant professor of music

(605) 331-6667 jonathan.neiderhiser@usiouxfalls.edu Whether he’s shaping a delicate woodwind or brass melody, providing the toe-tapping beats for a student swing dance night, evoking just the right musical mood for a theatrical scene or teaching the finer points of the German augmented sixth chord, Dr. Jonathan Neiderhiser is passionate about making great music.

Neiderhiser came to USF in 2007, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a conductor and teacher. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University where he went on to become an adjunct professor and assistant conductor of instrumental ensembles. Neiderhiser earned his doctorate in conducting from West Virginia University, and, while studying there, he became the founding director and kappelmeister of the Schola Cantorum at the Lutheran campus chapel.

Neiderhiser also worked as director of bands at Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va. As an assistant professor of music and director of instrumental music at USF, Neiderhiser has plenty of opportunities to share his love of conducting. He leads the wind and jazz ensembles and has directed the pit orchestra for three USF theater productions — Fame: The Musical, The Producers and Cinderella. For a bit of school-spirited fun, Neiderhiser established the Cougar pep band, and he helped establish the USF Chamber String Ensemble. The assistant professor also finds his way into the classroom, teaching courses in music theory and wind instrument techniques.

Neiderhiser is dedicated to professional development. He is a former assistant editor of Music Theory: Explorations and Applications, an academic journal that includes an article he authored. Locally, he’s a member of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band and a substitute hornist with the Dakota Wind Ensemble and the South Dakota Symphony.

Neiderhiser is married to Dr. Jenny Bangsund, and they have one daughter, Johanna.

Music is one of the fastest growing majors at the University of Sioux Falls. Since 2007, declared music majors have increased from 9 to 25—a 178 percent increase.

Growing a quality music program relies on dedicated students and faculty but also supportive alumni and friends. An annual or planned gift to the music department will help fund scholarships; recruiting efforts; local, regional and international travel opportunities; and more.

To donate, call the institutional advancement office at (605) 331-6608 or visit usiouxfalls.edu/donate.

“

Liz Boden, Beldenville, Wisc. interdisciplinary, Dec. ‘10 I’m grateful for

my education and experiences at USF, and I hope to incorporate the service and work ethic lessons I’ve learned into all aspects of my life.

13

”

14

1101 W 22nd St»Sioux Falls, SD 57105»(800) 888-1047»usiouxfalls.edu/music