WAHPETON, ND (KFGO) – The NDSCS Wildcat Singers are celebrating 50 years of spreading music to local communities, schools, and across the U.S.
Class of 1973 Bass Player Rick Hendrickson plugged into the the 50th anniversary Ampeg SVT amp (NDSCS Performing Arts)
A recent study determined that technical students do better while participating in the fine arts. That is nothing new to the campus of NDSCS which has had opportunities in music dating back over a century. By the third year of its existence in 1908, the college had organized the first band on campus.
During the Great Depression era of the 1930’s, vocal groups started to appear but it wasn’t until the 1950’s when both instrumental and vocal music came together and began to tour consistently. Small ensembles did radio commercials and in 1959-61 and toured weekly in a school-owned charter bus.
In 1970, a new performance group emerged on campus which would come to be known as “The Wildcat Singers.” Newly hired Director Tilford Kroshus wanted his groups to tour the small school districts across the state.
Bryan Poyzer is the program coordinator of the performing arts at NDSCS. He is starting his 7th year there and 30th year overall in music education. His duties at the college include teaching theory classes and directing the choirs including the Wildcat Singers. He joined It takes 2 to talk about the 50th reunion concert:
During this years homecoming, on September 25, NDSCS will celebrate and honor its past directors and students. The day will include opportunities to have morning coffee with the directors, attend a banquet in which the history of NDSCS music will be celebrated, and attend the Wildcat Singers Reunion Concert.
