Wednesday, June 25 to Friday, June 27, 2025
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The University of South Dakota’s Band Directors Institute is an intensive program designed to expose music educators to the best in current and standard literature in addition to teaching methods and materials. The three-day institute will include large ensemble reading sessions, master classes and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for band directors. The tuition costs may be paid online, by check with pre-registration or on the first day of the institute. Participants are highly encouraged to pre-register for purposes of instrumentation for the reading bands. Registration for the institute is $240. Pre-registration by June 1 will lower the fee to $215.
Band Directors Institute Schedule is coming soon.
GUEST CLINICIAN: Paul Popiel
Paul W. Popiel is a distinguished conductor, music professor, and the current Dean of the School of Music at the University of Kansas, a role to which he was appointed in 2023. He previously served as the Director of Bands for thirteen years at Kansas, making him only the seventh person to hold this position in the band’s rich 125-year history.
In addition to his administrative duties, Popiel leads the Lawrence City Band in their summer concert series in scenic South Park and conducts the Crossroads Wind Symphony, featuring area music educators. His previous appointments include Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Oklahoma State University, as well as teaching in the public schools of Texas and Michigan.
Popiel recently completed a four-week professional conducting residency with the prestigious Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra in Japan. The resulting concert series was recorded for a special live-in-concert five-CD box set, showcasing the nine symphonies of composer James Barnes. A sought-after lecturer and performer, Popiel has made significant contributions across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Noteworthy milestones include Popiel’s Carnegie Hall debut in 2013, praised by the New York Times and New York’s Feast of Music. In 2023, the KU Wind Ensemble, under Popiel’s direction, was honored with The American Prize for outstanding performance. In recognition of his contributions to the field, Popiel was elected to the membership of the esteemed American Bandmasters Association and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2013.
Housing
Participants have the option of staying on campus or planning their own accommodations during the institute. Participants wishing to stay on campus may stay in air conditioned, single occupancy rooms at a rate of $55 per night plus applicable tax, pending Board of Regents approval. These rates do not include bed linens or towels.
Optional Graduate Credit
Participants have the option to earn graduate credit for participation in certain sessions. Payment of tuition ($40 per credit hour) for graduate credit is due on the day of registration. Tuition rates are set by the South Dakota Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice. Selected clinicians and/or USD faculty instruct all sessions.
MUS790 Band Rehearsal Methods for the Music Educator- Master classes and clinics focusing on teaching materials, techniques and pedagogy for music educators, grades K–12.
MUS790Music Literature for Instrumental Ensembles- Reading sessions focusing on a wide variety of instrumental music for public school band, grades 5–12. Materials will include both standard works and new releases from major publishers.
MUS790 New Trends and Best Practices for the Instrumental Music Educator- Seminars and roundtable discussions to allow the band director to focus on current trends in the area of instrumental music education. A written final project is required.
For more information contact Director of Symphonic Bands Bethany Amundson at (605)-658-3468 or at [email protected].
