South Dakota Bandmasters Scholarship
The South Dakota Bandmasters Association sponsors a scholarship program for freshman, sophomore, and junior instrumental music education majors. The SDBA awards two $1,000 scholarships annually. Please review the eligibility requirements listed below.
Note: Applicants should apply online. Recordings should be submitted in .mp3 format.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a freshman, sophomore or junior instrumental education major at a South Dakota College or University, with a career goal of being a band director.
- Applicant must have the written recommendation of his/her college band director.
- Applicant must be a current member of the South Dakota Bandmaster’s Association
- Priority will be given to those students who have not previously received the scholarship.
Application Procedure
- Applicant must submit an audio recording of a solo, with or without accompaniment. The media used may be either a compact disk or, if emailed, an electronic file in .wav format
- Applicant must submit a completed scholarship application form, with a written recommendation by applicant’s college band director.
- Applicant must submit a written essay of not less than 300 words on the following topic: What has influenced me to become a band director?
Selection Procedure
- All recordings and essays will be screened by a committee consisting of an SDBA board member and 4 active members of SDBA.
- None of these committee members will have had any of the applicants as students, past or present.
- The scholarship winners will be announced at the SD Intercollegiate Band concert.
- Scholarship moneys will be sent to the winners at the beginning of the Fall Semester after the college director/instructor verifies fall enrollment with the SDBA Secretary-Treasurer.
Past Recipients
| Year Awarded | Recipient | University |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Masyn Schutter | University of South Dakota |
| 2025 | Ande Peterson | University of South Dakota |
| 2024 | Levi Gebhard | South Dakota State University |
| 2024 | Emily Hofer | South Dakota State University |
| 2023 | Evan Miller | South Dakota State University |
| 2023 | Megan Dockter | Northern State University |
| 2022 | Ethan Dingman | South Dakota State University |
| 2022 | Nick Lange | South Dakota State University |
| 2021 | Alyssa Mueller | Black Hills State University |
| 2020 | Joanna Boll | South Dakota State University |
| 2020 | Anna VanRavenswaay | Augustana University |
| 2019 | Sophie Drotzmann | Augustana University |
| 2019 | Elizabeth Pauli | South Dakota State University |
| 2018 | MaryEllen Kennedy | South Dakota State University |
| 2018 | Sarah Rathert | Black Hills State University |
| 2017 | Katie Appl | Northern State University |
| 2017 | Tanna Waltman | South Dakota State University |
| 2016 | John Gorr | Northern State University |
| 2016 | Michael Hoffman | University of South Dakota |
| 2015 | Deleyna LeBelle | Northern State University |
| 2015 | Molly Royals | Northern State University |
| 2014 | Spencer Kruse | Augustana University |
| 2014 | Sarah Schmidt | South Dakota State University |
| 2013 | Robert Conrad | Northern State University |
| 2013 | Spencer Wahl | South Dakota State University |
| 2012 | Tyler Schwan | Northern State University |
| 2012 | John Patzlaff | Northern State University |
| 2011 | Brandi Stueckrath | University of South Dakota |
| 2o11 | Amy Weitgrefe | Northern State University |
| 2010 | Charity Wells | Northern State University |
| 2010 | Alicia Grothenhuis | South Dakota State University |
| 2009 | Kelsey Pickford | Northern State University |
| 2009 | Phil Carlson | Northern State University |
| 2008 | Kelsey Campbell | South Dakota State University |
| 2008 | Anne Jundt | Northern State University |
| 2007 | ? | ? |
| 2006 | ? | ? |
| 2005 | Jody Coburn | Northern State University |
| 2005 | Brian Hanegan | Northern State University |
| 2004 | ? | ? |
| 2003 | Jenna Jensen | Northern State University |
| 2003 | Jessica Wanttie | Northern State University |
| 2002 | Hilarie Barrett | South Dakota State University |
| 2002 | Lacey Kruse | South Dakota State University |
| 2001 | Miriam Hedges | University of South Dakota |
| 2001 | Curtis Parkhurst | Northern State University |
| 2000 | Rodd Bauck | Northern State University |
| 2000 | Dusty Hoffman | Augustana University |
| 1999 | Jennifer Fischer | Northern State University |