Division of Performing Arts

Concert Band
The core of Minot State University's wind and percussion program is its outstanding concert band. Membership is open to all students across the campus with previous instrumental experience, or for students who are majoring or minoring in music. The band stimulates musical challenge and growth through a variety of concert band literature and utilizes full concert band instrumentation. The band performs two concerts each semester in addition to runout concerts. Students receive university credit for participating in band. The concert Band is under the Direction of Dr. David Rolandson.

The Pride of MSU Marching Band
The MSU Marching Band presents pre-game and half-time shows at home football games as well as Homecoming activities. Comprised of students from nearly every major within the University, this newly reorganized organization combines quality musicianship, MSU spirit, and dedication to create gridiron excitement. Join us in this exciting adventure!

Beaver Pep Band
The MSU Beaver Pep Band is open to any student wishing to perform at ball games throughout the year. They play a vital role in creating an atmosphere of spirit for both Men's and Women's home basketball games as well as pep rallies and various community functions as requested. Beaver Pep Band students receive a stipend for their participation. The band is under the direction of Dr. David Rolandson.

Jazz Ensemble
The MSU Jazz Ensemble provides students with exposure to various styles of jazz music while encouraging musicians to imitate these styles through performance. Students also hone their skills through ensemble participation and solo improvisation. The Jazz Ensemble is under the direction of Dr. David Rolandson and is open to all MSU students by audition. The Jazz Ensemble performs two major concerts per semester and for various university and community events.

Brass and Woodwind Ensembles
Small ensembles including Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, Brass Choir and several small ensembles.

Percussion at MSU
Percussionists at MSU come from all facets of university life and experience a wide variety of performance opportunities. Percussionists may audition to perform with the MSU Symphonic Band, Drum Line for the "Pride of MSU" Marching Band, Athletic Band, Jazz Ensemble, or Minot Symphony Orchestra, as well as with percussion-only groups such as the Percussion Ensemble or Marimba Ensemble. The percussion ensembles perform two concerts per semester.

Percussion students travel regularly to take part in regional and national percussion events. In recent years they have attended Percussive Arts Society International Conventions in Indianapolis, IN and San Antonio, TX. Our active Percussive Arts Club undertakes fundraising events for trips and assists with workshops we host for area percussion students. In 2015 they hosted the official Percussive Arts Society ND Day of Percussion.

The percussion department sponsors a Percussion Workshop every other year in conjunction with the Northwest International Festival of Music, bringing outstanding percussion clinicians from across the country to MSU. The event is open to all area middle school, high school, and university students and educators.

Percussion guest artists have included the jazz/fusion group Panoramic; pannist Harold Headley from the University of the West Indies; percussionist Jason Kihle; internationally noted marimbist Kevin Bobo; Christian Michael Berg, principal percussionist with the Oslo (Norway) Philharmonic; the Mat Britain and Dan Moore marimba and steel pan duo; Tim Palmer and Jason Huxtable of Maraca2 from Birmingham, UK; and marimbists Matthew Coley and Jeremy Johnston.

Percussion activities at MSU are under the direction of Avis Veikley.