The South Dakota State University Department of Music is pleased to host South Dakota’s music teachers as they convene their respective conferences February 12, 13, and 14, 2009. The conference includes the 37th annual South Dakota Music Educators Association Clinic, the 37th annual String Teachers Association Clinic, the 41st annual Choral Day, and the 73rd annual South Dakota Bandmasters Association Clinic.

The conference features two and one-half days of concerts, interest sessions presented by some of the region’s finest practicing pedagogues and researchers, a keynote address, and affiliate meetings. Clinics this year include brass, woodwind, and percussion workshops, vocal pedagogy workshops, special topics for elementary teachers, conducting high school choral and instrumental ensembles, and current trends in music education.

This year’s featured artist is trumpet soloist extraordinaire, Allen Vizzutti. Equally at home in a multitude of musical idioms, Allen has visited 40 countries and every state in the union to perform with a rainbow of artists and ensembles, including Chick Corea, “Doc” Severinsen, the NBC Tonights Show Band, the Airmen of Note, the Army Blues, Chuck Mangione, and Woody Herman. Performing as a classical and a jazz artist, often in the same evening, he has appeared as guest soloist with many professional symphonies. Allen’s status as an artist has led to solo performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz Festival, Banff Center for the Performing Arts, Montreaux Jazz Festival, the Teton, Vail, Aspen, and Breckenridge Music Festivals, The Charles Ives Center and Lincoln Center in New York City. His continues commitment to music education and the value of music in everyday life results in an extensive schedule of guest appearances at universities throughout North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.