Arts through the Eras SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS 2026-2027 SEASON
2 | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY Joe Schaeffer Exhibition PAGE 5 Liz Miller Exhibition PAGE 7 ON BROADWAY! PAGE 7 2026-27 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS America the Beautiful! PAGE 7 Of this Earth PAGE 7 PAGE 5 South Dakota Jazz Festival PAGE 8
FROM THE DEAN As we enter the 2026-27 academic year, I want to sincerely thank you for your support of our program. This will be my final year as Dean of Northern State University’s School of Fine Arts, as I will retire in June. Serving in this capacity for the past eleven years has been the greatest honor of my career. Our students and faculty have been tremendous partners to work with, and the administration has shown vigorous support both in times of strategic challenge and opportunity. We have collectively created new curricula, resources, and initiatives for student success, dynamically positioning our programs for the next chapter. Your continued investments have made these advancements possible! This is a very special year for Northern State University, as the university marks 125 years since its founding as Northern Normal and Industrial School in 1901! While a commitment to educational excellence has defined NSU’s long-term mission, generations of students have also been transformed by innovation, leadership, and collaboration in ways they could not have imagined. As shown on this booklet’s cover, the School of Fine Arts has been a cornerstone in the arts and is proud to have played an important role in the university’s legacy. Our alumni have distinguished themselves as educators, creators, performers, and designers in important professional settings all over the country, and we are excited to offer new and modern academic experiences to our current and future generations of students, wherever their talents lead them. As you peruse this booklet, I hope you enjoy the chance to review the past year in photos, preview the exciting 2026-27 season, and consider contributing to the School of Fine Arts’ growing base of support. As always, I look forward to sharing and celebrating our bright future with you. Warm regards, On the cover Top row, left to right: art students, 1946; Ben Victor, 2014; marching band leads Gypsy Day Parade, 1960s; cast photo of A.E.W. Mason’s Green Stockings, 1920. Dr. Kenneth O. Boulton Dean, School of Fine Arts Bottom row, left to right: orchestra launches bus tour, 1931; Les Miserables, 2014; concert band, 1952; Professor John Berggren leads choir rehearsal, 1964. Dr. Kenneth O. Boulton Dean, School of Fine Arts NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 3
4 | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY INSPIRING SUPPORT Your support inspires us to be better NSU Chamber Singers perform at the annual NSU Winter Choral Concert. and achieve more – and we’re looking forward to building on our incredible history!
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 5 ˜°˛˝ 13-Sept. 11 nice; 04 Exhibition Sponsored by Midwest Nice Art, an art collective intended to promote equitable, inclusive, and respectful communities in the arts. Johnson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery ˙ˆˇ˘ˆ ˆ 8-Oct. 2 4th Annual Welcome Back Student Art Show Johnson Fine Arts Center Gallery X 10 NSU Faculty Showcase Recital 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater ˘ ˆ 8-Nov. 13 Joe Schaeffer Exhibition Johnson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery 21-24 NSU Opera-Theatre/Aberdeen Community Theatre/Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony present: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s Cinderella 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 25 NSU Opera-Theatre/Aberdeen Community Theatre/Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony present: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s Cinderella 3:00 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater Friends of the Arts/NSU Season Event. Turn to pages 12-15 to learn more. 2026-27 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Dan Cleberg, winner of the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony’s Battle for the Baton fundraiser, enthusiastically conducts the orchestra. The NSU Jazz Ensemble performs during the 56th Annual South Dakota Jazz Festival.
6 | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY NSU Opera-Theatre and the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony team with Aberdeen Community Theatre to present a brilliantly successful production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music.
Daria Poor’s The Farmer welcomes visitors to the 2026 McQuillen Creative Group Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition. ˆ ˆ 15 NSU Symphonic Band/NSU Concert Band present: Celebrations 3:00 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 20 Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony presents: America the Beautiful (in conjunction with the Aberdeen Community Concert Association) 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 20-Dec. 12 NSU Senior Student BFA Art Exhibitions Johnson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery and Gallery X ˆ ˆ ˆ 3 NSU Winter Choral Concert 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Aberdeen ˆ ° ˝ 1-March 26 Liz Miller Exhibition Johnson Fine Arts Center, Art Gallery 11 NSU Symphonic Band presents: Of this Earth 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 27 Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony presents: On Broadway! 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 7 Friends of the Arts/NSU Season Event. Delaynie Parker places finishing touches on her digital illustration research project. Turn to pages 12-15 to learn more.
Art alum Basil Pike explores felting at the annual Arts Education Institute. 8 | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY 8-April 2 NSU Juried Student Art Exhibition Johnson Fine Arts Center Gallery X 4 57th Annual South Dakota Jazz Festival Concert (in conjunction with the Aberdeen Community Concert Association) 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 5-6 NSU Opera Workshop presents: Murder Most Melodious – An Interactive Operatic Murder Mystery Dinner 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Black Box Theater 24 NSU Bach’s Lunch Concert 12:00 p.m. noon, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Aberdeen ˇ ˛ 5-May 8 NSU Senior Student BFA Art Exhibitions Johnson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery and Gallery X 18 NSU Symphonic Band/NSU Concert Band present: Band Extravaganza 3:00 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 24 Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony presents: Passion, Power, and Virtuosity featuring violinist Jessica Mathaes 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater Friends of the Arts/NSU Season Event. Turn to pages 12-15 to learn more. Mixed media students critique each other’s work. Drawing students practice figure drawing with a live model.
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 9 Elias Heier performs on timpani with the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony during the orchestra’s spring concert at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
ˇ ˛ TY ATE UNIVERSI NORTHERN ST 10 | 29 NSU Spring Choral Concert 7:30 p.m., Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater 30 NSU Jazz Swing Dance 6:00 p.m., Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center Friends of the Arts/NSU Season Event. Turn to pages 12-15 to learn more. The NSU Marching Wolves show their spirit during the 2025 Gypsy Days halftime show.
Taye Cundiff and Miranda Myers perform a scene from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma, featured in NSU Opera-Theater’s spring program, entitled Love Struck and Saddle Sore – Tall Tales in Song. NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 11
TY ATE UNIVERSI NORTHERN ST 12 | The Northern State University School of Fine Arts is committed to developing both the personal and creative expression of every student, as well as providing the highest quality professional instruction in the arts. You have an exciting opportunity to support the outstanding work of our faculty and students by joining the Friends of the Arts/NSU. By becoming a member, you affirm the value of the arts as a vital and integral part of our lives, and further strengthen NSU’s presence as an arts leader. Your support ensures that our students will more fully realize their potential for future careers in the arts by enhancing the quality of arts education offered at NSU. Additionally, your donation supports the broad array of fine arts performances and events that benefit our community and region. Your membership entitles you to a number of attractive benefits and privileges, including complimentary tickets to a host of season events, invitation-only receptions for selected concerts and special events, recognition in printed programs, and more. Become a member today by visiting northern.edu/artsnsu, or by filling out the membership form on the enclosed addressed envelope and returning it with a check payable to “Northern State University Foundation.” You may also scan this QR code to sign up online. If you have further questions, please call 605-626-2550. BE A FRIEND OF THE ARTS/NSU
NSU Concerto-Aria instrumental winner Axton Johnson performs Aram Arutunian’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra with Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony. NSU Concert-Aria vocal winner Ember Geist performs Luigi Arditi’s Il Bacio with the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony. NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 13
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS • Special Friends of the Arts/NSU Season Kick-Off in the Johnson Fine Arts Center • Special Friends of the Arts/NSU invitation to the 2027 NSU Juried Student Art Show and Award Ceremony • Hors d’oeuvres socials for selected School of Fine Arts 2026-27 events • Recognition in performance programs and on the NSU School of Fine Arts website SPONSOR $2,500 (individual) $5,000 (couple) 14 | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY Membership Benefits • Plus! 1. The option to designate a portion of your gift ($1,500 minimum) to establishing a new named scholarship and determining the criteria for the award OR 2. The option to designate a portion of your gift ($1,500 minimum) to sponsoring one of the School of Fine Arts 2026-27 season events • Plus! Exclusive invitation to a Friends of the Arts/NSU holiday gathering at the President’s residence • Plus! Exclusive invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU School of Fine Arts and Aberdeen Community Theatre production of Cinderella • Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles • Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony’s February concert, On Broadway! • Plus! Complimentary tickets to all ten School of Fine Arts 2026-27 season events, including Cinderella, October 21-25, 2026.
BENEFACTOR $500 (individual) $1,000 (couple) Membership Benefits • Plus! Exclusive invitation to a Friends of the Arts/NSU holiday gathering at the President’s residence • Plus! Exclusive invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU School of Fine Arts and Aberdeen Community Theatre production of Cinderella • Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles • Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony’s February concert, On Broadway! • Plus! Complimentary tickets to all ten School of Fine Arts 2026-27 season events, including Cinderella, October 21-25, 2026 PATRON Membership Benefits • Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and $250 (individual) Michael Skyles $500 (couple) • Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony’s February concert, On Broadway! • Plus! Complimentary tickets to your choice of seven School of Fine Arts 2026-27 season events FRIEND Membership Benefits • Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by $150 (individual) Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles $300 (couple) • Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony’s February concert, On Broadway! • Plus! Complimentary tickets to your choice of five School of Fine Arts 2026-27 season events DONOR • Membership benefits $50 (individual) $100 (couple) northern.edu/artsnsu NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | 15
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