Edmunds County Tribune -

Over 1,000 of South Dakota's best high school vocal and instrumental musicians will gather in Rapid City for the 69th Annual South Dakota All-State Chorus and Orchestra on Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30.

The All-State activities will culminate with a Grand Concert at the new Summit Arena at The Monument beginning at 7 p.m. (MT) on Saturday evening, October 30.

The Ipswich singers are Emily Knoll, soprano; Chloe Jager, alto; Jacob Bakken, tenor; Gavin Wollman, bass. The IHS alternates are soprano Savannah Coisman, alto Tasha Rivera, tenor Lawson Santema, and bass Kaden Boettcher.

The annual All-State Chorus & Orchestra, sponsored by South Dakota High School Activities Association, is the largest interscholastic high school music activity held in South Dakota. The 2021 All-State Chorus includes 920 singers representing 140 South Dakota high schools. The All-State Orchestra is comprised of 149 musicians from 25 schools.

The guest conductors for the 2021 All-State Chorus & Orchestra Concert are Dr. Mark Myers from the Chicago Children's Choir, and Dr. Kevin Suetterlin from Concordia College. Dr. Myers will conduct the All-State Chorus while Dr. Suetterlin will lead the 2021 All-State Orchestra.

During the All-State Grand Concert, the South Dakota Music Educators Association will recognize several high schools and individuals for their contributions to music in South Dakota. The SDHSAA will also recognize Dr. James Weaver for his contributions to interscholastic music education in South Dakota by awarding him with the SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award.

Concert tickets can be purchased at http://www.themonument.live, or at the box office in the Monument.

The doors of the Summit Arena will open for the concert at 5:30 on Saturday evening.

The concert can be viewed on South Dakota Public Broadcasting on Saturday evening also.