On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager accomplished the impossible
by breaking the sound barrier for the first time. Five years
later a sound barrier of sorts was broken in South Dakota.
The first All-State Chorus and Orchestra was born in Huron
on November 13 and 14, 1953. The South Dakota Music Educators
Association was established in Aberdeen in November of 1948
under the leadership of Grace McArthur, professor of music
at Northern State College. From the minutes of the South
Dakota Music Educators Association we find that “during
the 1950-1951 school year, discussions were held concerning
forming an All-State Chorus and an All-State Orchestra.
The decision was made to have the first All-State Chorus
perform at the state SDEA Convention in Sioux Falls in 1952.
Plans were made to sponsor both an All-State Chorus and
an All-State Orchestra at Huron on November 13-14, 1953.
Following this event, an evaluative discussion of the success
of the concert led to the decision to sponsor an annual
All-State event for two days in November each year.” Robert
McCowan directed the All-State Chorus and Emmanuel Wishnow
the All-State Orchestra in the inaugural concert. The formation
of these two major events reaching across the expanse of
South Dakota was quite a venture for the recently-established
South Dakota Music Educators Association. In 1965 a partnership
was formed with the South Dakota High School Inter-Scholastic
Activities Association (now the South Dakota High School
Activities Association or SDHSAA) which would include SDMEA
activities to allow for more central control of all activities
within the state. On the average, over 950 choral and over
150 Orchestra students participate each year. The experience
of participating in an event with over 1000 performers creates
an emotional experience that lasts a lifetime and in many
cases is treasured from generation to generation within
the same family.
