301 S Main Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sarah Burman-Schollmeyer (605) 335-7933 x12
[email protected]
The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra performs the Lakota Music
Project with Bryan Akipa and Stephen Bryant
“Music truly is the universal language. In terms of doing our part in the larger effort to build bridges
between white and Lakota cultures in South Dakota, the Lakota Music Project was a very important first
step for the orchestra, our audience, the Native American population, and the public. This project
ensures the knowledge, significance, and tradition of both symphony orchestra and Lakota music and culture
are not lost.” – Delta David Gier, Music Director South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Coliseum at the Multi-Cultural Center – Sioux Falls, SD
October 11, 2014 at 7:30 PM
Crazy Horse Memorial – Custer, SD
October 13, 2014 at 2:00 PM
SIOUX FALLS – Music Director Delta David Gier and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra welcome
Bryan Akipa and Stephen Bryant to perform a new program for the Lakota Music Project. The Lakota
Music Project was created between 2005 and 2008 through a collaboration between the South Dakota
Symphony and leaders of the Lakota community. It is designed to build bridges between whites and
Native Americans, advance cultural understanding, and create an environment of openness and
collaboration through the music.
The October 2014 performances will feature two orchestral works commissioned especially for the
Lakota Music Project. The first piece is by Native American composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, a
citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. Mr. Tate is dedicated to the development of American Indian classical
composition and is Artistic Director for the Chickasaw Chamber Music Festival. Mr. Tate’s piece,
Waktégli Olówaŋ (Victory Songs), is composed in honor of Lloyd Running Bear, Sr. and Lakota warriors. It
is based upon the book Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains, by Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohíye S’a).
Eastman (1858-1939) was a Santee Sioux physician, writer, lecturer and reformer. His literary output is
an outstanding personal account of Sioux history. Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains is a set of 15
biographies of historic Sioux warriors, most of whom Eastman knew personally. The song honors five
Lakota warriors: Red Cloud, Gall, Two-Strike, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull and features original poetry by
the composer. Baritone Stephen Bryant is featured, singing in Lakota.
– more –
Pentatonic Fantasy for Dakota Cedar Flute and Orchestra was composed by Jeffrey Paul, Principal Oboe
for the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. Featuring Bryan Akipa on cedar flute, Pentatonic Fantasy for
Dakota Cedar Flute and Orchestra was commissioned by the Sisseton Arts Council after they heard a
previous Lakota Music Project concert. The Sisseton Arts Council wanted something distinctly Dakota,
and since Bryan Akipa (a prominent and extremely accomplished Dakota Flute player) was from the
Sisseton reservation, they thought it would be a good collaboration. “I listened to a good deal of Native
flute music, especially albums recorded by Bryan Akipa, and experimented with playing some cedar
flutes myself, in hopes of getting a good feel for the instrument,” Paul explains his compositional
process. Akipa, who makes his own flutes and owns several, will switch flutes throughout the work,
including one he made specifically for this commission.
From its inception, the Lakota Music Project was designed to be an ongoing engagement. The Native
American population has had more than their share of one-offs, where well-meaning organizations start
something significant only to end the collaboration shortly after it begins. The South Dakota Symphony
Orchestra desires to truly serve its region with a long-term program that can make a real difference in
the area of racial prejudice and cultural understanding.
Phase I of the project encompassed an inaugural tour in May 2009 to three Indian reservations (Pine
Ridge Reservation, Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation, and Rosebud Reservation) and two South
Dakota communities (Sioux Falls and Rapid City) followed by performances at the Governor’s
Conference on Tourism in January 2010 and at Crazy Horse Memorial on Native Americans’ Day in
October 2010. Phase II of the LMP was devised by the LMP Task Force, a group of community leaders,
Native American advocates, and SDSO musicians. Activities included collaboration with the South
Dakota Humanities Council; deepening of the relationship with Crazy Horse Memorial with a
performance in October 2012; a four-site tour to Native American Reservations and traditionally white
communities (Pierre, Eagle Butte, Mobridge, and Sisseton); and the world premiere of the first
orchestral song cycle, sung in Lakota, by Native American Composer Jerod Tate. Phase II was completed
in May 2013. Phase III of the Lakota Music Project begins with a performance of a new program for the
Lakota Music Project in Sioux Falls on October 11, 2014 and a performance at Crazy Horse Memorial on
Native American Day, October 13, 2014.
ABOUT BRYAN AKIPA
Bryan Akipa, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, an Army veteran, elementary teacher,
visual and performing artist, is an award winning traditional Native American flute player. His CDs have
been, nominated for several Nammies or Native American Music Awards, including 1998 honors for The
Flute Player album, 1999 Thunder Flute (also the Indie awards finalist), 2001 Eagle Dreams, 2002 Best
Flutist, Best Male Artist. He was a featured player on “My Relatives Say” by Mary Louis Defender which
won the 2000 NAMA for Best Spoken Word recording.
– more –
In addition to being a premier Native American flute player, Bryan is internationally known for his
craftsmanship of traditional flutes. When one hears the depth and age in sound of his instrument, the
importance of this tradition becomes quite apparent. He is also a champion traditional dancer that tours
with the Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre. His performances and artwork informs others about his history
and heritage. He is featured in the books “Faces of Identity, Hands of Skill” by Troyd Geist; “Seeking a
Vision” by Don Doll; “Dakota Oyate” by Alta Renville. The artist and performers represented in these
books are among the finest in the state of South Dakota.
ABOUT STEPHEN BRYANT
Grammy nominee, bass-baritone Stephen Bryant’s distinguished career in concert and opera has taken
him around the world, with acclaimed performances in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia. He has sung with the New York City Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, the
Indianapolis Opera, and such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel
Philharmonic and Japan Philharmonic. He was nominated for a Grammy for “Best Opera Recording” in
Tan Dun’s Marco Polo on Opus Arte in December 2009.
Mr. Bryant’s repertoire extends from Bach and Handel to today’s most prominent composers. A
premiere interpreter of the works of Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun, Bryant created the
role of Dante in the world premiere of the opera Marco Polo. He reprised the role at London’s Barbicon
Center for a performance broadcast by the BBC and for De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam.
Stephen holds a Bachelor’s from Oberlin and a Master’s from the University of Michigan. On the voice
faculty at William Paterson University, he lives in Montclair, New Jersey with his wife Caryl, and their
two sons, David and Andrew.
ABOUT THE SOUTH DAKOTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) was formed in 1922 in conjunction with Augustana
College. It was incorporated in November of 1965 as the Sioux Falls Symphony, and finally declared the
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in 1985 by proclamation of Governor William Janklow. The mission
of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) is: “To celebrate the tradition of live orchestral music
and enrich the lives of people throughout our region.” The SDSO is grounded in five core values
including community engagement, creating partnerships, lifelong impact, educational opportunities, and
live symphonic music. The symphony works to accomplish its mission and live its core values with
concert, touring, education, and community engagement programs that reach audiences of all ages
throughout the state of South Dakota. During the 2013-2014 season alone, 210 musical events were
performed, serving over 55,000 people. For more information, visit www.sdsymphony.org.
###