Bridging Cultures with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra has been enriching the lives of the people of Sioux Falls and the wider part of the state since it incorporated in 1965. Its community engagement work in particular has been recognized among symphony orchestras across the United States. Comprising 10% of the population of South Dakota, Native American communities have been central to the orchestra’s efforts to connect with the state’s broad public. This case surveys the inspiration and phases of the Lakota Music Project, initiated by Delta David Gier, Music Director of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. The Lakota Music Project is then set in the context of other programs under the umbrella of “Bridging Cultures.” A grant to support training in equity, diversity, and inclusion prompts new questions about the organization’s past and future.
This case study is a collaboration of the League of American Orchestras and the Eastman School of Music.