History
Thirty five years ago, the South Dakota All-State Honors Choir was formed by choral directors Stan Rishoi, Perry Jones, Alan Stanga, Bob Ellingson, Donald Peterson, and Rolf Anderson to provide a quality musical experience for the state’s top high school vocalists. Black Hills State University College provided the first setting for the 150 select high school singers with Rod Walker of Kansas State University as conductor.
Each year one of South Dakota’s universities or colleges hosts the event and the choir has continued to be conducted by the nation’s finest directors. These have included such notables as Dale Warland, Douglas R. McEwen, Hugh Sanders, René Clausen, Alice Larsen, Anton Armstrong, André Thomas, Sally Herman, Paul Torkelson, Greg Lyne and Weston Noble.
Four alumnae Choirs have been formed to commemorate the 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, and 35th Anniversary years with Alice Larsen, René Clausen, Paul Torkelson, Edith Copley, and Tim Peters as directors.
The SD-ACDA provides leadership and staff for the yearly event. The Honors Choir is governed by an executive committee chosen from the South Dakota ACDA. Section leaders, accompanists, and counselors are ACDA members dedicated to the success of the program.
The Honor Choir History
|
YEAR |
DIRECTOR |
LOCATION |
| 1974 | Rod Walker | Black Hills State University |
| 1975 | Dr. Frank Pooler | University of South Dakota |
| 1976 | Dale Warland | Black Hills State University |
| 1977 | Dr. Howard Skinner | Sioux Falls College |
| 1978 | Dr. Lee Kjelson | Northern State University |
| 1979 | Dr. Claude Zetty | Augustana College |
| 1980 | Dr. Perry Jones | Northern State University |
| 1981 | Dr. Douglas R. McEwen | South Dakota State University |
| 1982 | Dr. Eph Ehly | Augustana College |
| 1983 | Alice T. Larsen | Black Hills State University |
| 1984 | Dr. Karle Erickson | South Dakota State University |
| 1985 | John Windh | University of South Dakota |
| 1986 | Dr. Hugh Sanders | Augustana College |
| 1987 | Dale Grotenhuis | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
| 1988 | Duncan Couch | Northern State University |
| 1989 | René Clausen | Northern State University |
| 1990 | Dr. Anton Armstrong | South Dakota State University |
| 1991 | Sigrid Johnson | Sioux Falls College |
| 1992 | Dr. Andre Thomas | Augustana College |
| 1993 | Sally Herman | Black Hills State University |
| 1994 | Paul Torkelson | Northern State University |
| 1995 | Dr. Gregory Lyne | South Dakota State University |
| 1996 | Weston Noble | University of South Dakota |
| 1997 | Dr. Karle Erickson | Northern State University |
| 1998 | Dr. Anton Armstrong | Augustana College |
| 1999 | Dr. Edith Copley | Dakota Wesleyan University |
| 2000 | Dr. Andre Thomas | Northern State University |
| 2001 | Dr. René Clausen | University of Sioux Falls |
| 2002 | Dr. Tim Peter | Northern State University |
| 2003 | Carl Stam | South Dakota State University |
| 2004 | Dr. Jerry Blackstone | University of Sioux Falls |
| 2005 | Dr. Robert Wright | University of South Dakota |
| 2006 | Dr. James Rodde | Northern State University |
| 2007 | Bruce Becker | South Dakota State University |
| 2008 | Dr. Sandra Peters | Augustana College |