In March, the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra looked to state roots for a program putting Dvořák—specifically his “New World” Symphony—in the context of local history. The first half of the program featured Lakota Scholar Ronnie Theisz, Lakota Elder Chris Eagle Hawk, and the Creekside Singers, a Lakota drumming group, performing a symphonic composition by Native American composer Brent Michael Davids. The second half featured a complete performance of Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony (“From the New World”), led by SDSO Music Director Delta David Gier. The presentation was part of “Dvořák in America,” a multimedia project sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and designed by musicologist Joseph Horowitz, exploring topics in American history. The SDSO concerts also included audience discussions about issues addressed in the program. It was the second time the SDSO has featured Native-American performers onstage with the orchestra as part of the Lakota Music Project, an initiative by the SDSO and leaders of the Lakota community to increase cultural understanding through music collaboration.
