For generations the white man tried diligently to erase all traditions, language, and music from the Native Nations that populated what became the United States.

The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra has joined forces with musicians from the Lakota Nation to create the Lakota Music Project.  Next month they will launch their Shared Vision Tour with performances around the state.

The Lakota Music Project is the brainchild of SDSO music director Delta David Gier.  A project that was four years in the making resulted in a collaboration with members of the SDSO and the New Porcupine Singers ( a drumming group) in Pine Ridge.  What began as an awkward moment grew into a desire to pass the music on to future generations.

The first Lakota Music Project tour launched in 2009.

The tour features performances from each of the two groups before they join their forces to unite in the one true universal language…MUSIC!

Orchestras play using sheet music that is played the same way each time.  For drummers, it is never the same.  The group follows the drum keeper with no sheet music in sight.

It is the drum keeper’s responsibility to protect the sacred drum; but also to pass the music on to those generations yet to come.

Gier noted, “there’s been a lot of tears in rehearsals, not out of frustration but out of joy. You see how hard we’re working to fuse these two traditions together to create something beautiful that people will be able to understand and come away with a sense of possibility.”

Included in the musical program for the 2025 tour is an original composition by New Yorker Derek Bermel.  While Bermel has collaborated with a number of cultures for his compositions, this will mark the first time that has composed music for Native American musicians.

The concerts on the tour are free for everyone to attend.

Lakota Music Project tour dates:
Oct 13 at the Crazy Horse Memorial in Crazy Horse, SD – performances at 10:30am and 1pm – concert is free but admission fees to the Memorial apply
Oct 14 at the Lakota Tech High School in Pine Ridge, SD – performance begins at 5pm
Oct 15 at the Chamberlain High School in Chamberlain, SD – the 1:30pm performance is for students only with a 5:30pm performance open to all
Oct 16 at Sinte Gleska University in Mission, SD -performance begins at 5pm
Oct 17 at the Wagner Community School in Wagner, SD -the 2pm performance is for students only with a 5pm performance open to all
Oct 18 at the LSS Multi-Cultural Center in Sioux Falls, SD – performance begins at 7pm