NDSU Music Education

Join us at Summer Dialogue 2026 for Back to Basics: Nuts & Bolts 🎶

Join Dr. Dwight Jilek in exploring conducting and rehearsal techniques to fully engage and inspire you and your singers to bring the music to life! Participants will conduct, rehearse, and sing in an ensemble, exploring the following:
- Basic core principles of how gesture affects sound
- Learning quick adaptations in gesture to enable free and confident singing in multiple styles
- Experiencing rehearsal techniques that engage you and the singers completely (physically and emotionally) in the learning and performing process
- Accessing the “why” in what we do, and using it to feed our musical inspiration and be fully present at the podium

Space for this session is limited, so register today! https://acda-mn.com/summer-dialogue-registration/

Our last convocation of the school year! Best of luck to you all on your finals next week. Summer is 🤏 this close!

✨Job alert!✨ NDSU Performing Arts is currently taking applications for our open Manager of Recruiting and Logistics position. This role is responsible for directing and implementing our annual recruiting plans for the Challey School of Music and Theatre NDSU. The person in this position will also manage a variety of logistics related to recruiting events, school visits, group travel, and more.

Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/4f96Y2N

The Gold Star Marching Band is pleased to announce our inaugural Summer Education Programs!!

Open to all 2025-2026 8th-12th graders, and led by our amazing staff alongside our undergradute facilitators, these programs are an excellent way to build your Color Guard and Drumline skills in a welcoming and non-competitive environment, and experience a collegiate marching experience!

Who:
All 2026 8th-12th Graders, no prior experience necessary!!
When:
Info Session and Masterclass #1: May 11th, 2026 @ 6:30PM - NDSU's Challey Hall
Masterclass #2 and Drumline Placements: June 13th, 2026 @12:00PM - NDSU's Challey Hall
Rehearsals: Every Monday beginning June 15th, 2026 @6:30PM - NDSU's Challey Hall
Cost:
This is a completely free experience!!

Please join us at 6:30PM on May 11th in NDSU's Challey Hall for our informational meeting and first masterclass, led by GSMB Drumline Director Elias Youngblom and GSMB Color Guard instructor Lindsay Poock!

Either scan the QR code above or follow the link in our bio to register and begin your Gold Star Journey!!

The NDSU Challey School of Music is thrilled to welcome Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver to our faculty starting in August 2026!

Dr. Toliver will join the team as our new Associate Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music (vocal music education). In this role, she will teach graduate and undergraduate music methods courses, supervise pre-service teachers in the Teacher Education Program, coordinate the Master of Music in Music Education degree program, and conduct various choral ensembles.

Toliver brings a distinguished career across public and private school systems in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nevada, and Arizona. Prior to her appointment at NDSU, she served the students of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Beyond the rehearsal room and classroom setting, Toliver is an active church musician, adjudicator, clinician, and performer. She currently serves on the Midwestern ACDA Resource and Repertoire Leadership group as the chair for SSAA ensembles and as the College and University chair for the Iowa Music Educators Association.

Her research focuses on systemic gender bias in choral rehearsal environments, and she is committed to cultivating servant leadership in her students, with particular emphasis on supporting and empowering female educators and conductors.

Dr. Toliver holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from North Dakota State University, a Master of Music in choral music education and conducting from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in vocal music education from Concordia College, Moorhead. She is grateful for the continued support of her husband, Travis, and their sons, Carson and Tiegan.

Welcome to the Herd, Dr. Toliver! 🤘

Princeton Middle School Choir Opening- AMAZING district!

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✨ Reviewing the National Standards: Updates from NCAS

Learn about the latest information on the review process for the National Arts and Music Standards, including public input survey results, timeline, and project manager job description and application form. https://www.nationalartsstandards.org/NCAS-review-resources

JOY = The excitement, thrill, and potential in NDSU student teachers each semester!

Do you have a student interested in pursuing a career in Music Education? Encourage them to register for the Minnesota Future Music Educators program! MFME will be held on Thursday February 12th at the MMEA Midwinter Convention. Registered students will attend sessions focusing on what they should consider doing now to prepare for a career as a music educator, as well as what they can expect from this career choice. This program is open to current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Visit our website to learn more! https://mmea.org/events/mfme/

Our October Collegiate National Association for Music Education (NAfME) meeting was filled with great content from guest speakers, and Bison alums, Nick Bodin (West Fargo Public Schools) and Sam Sharpe (Zimmerman High School & Middle School). Their teaching successes in small and large school districts provided lots of ideas and inspiration for our students. 😊