Saginaw Valley State University Department of Music

05/16/2026

Incoming and returning marching band members, check out this post for information about the upcoming season!

Hey incoming and returning Cardinals! Please check out this checklist and dates for the upcoming season. It will come faster than we realize!

Make sure you fill out the marching band form ASAP on the music department website using this link:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_0UPVYM-oUKX2XCtiTWwxRHppzkYxO5Ksfm-GGGutHlUNFpDR1FZSTlXNlFSMkFENE8wVjFIQVE4RS4u
Don’t wait to fill it out!

Have a great summer and we are excited to see you soon!
Leadership Team introductions will be coming within the next few weeks.

05/07/2026

The SVSU Music Department is excited to congratulate our graduating students.

Victor MacDonald is graduating with his Bachelor's in Music Education! Congratulations, Victor!🎵

05/04/2026

Thanks for a great semester, Cards!

Enjoy your summer break, and we'll see you back in August for Fall 2026!

05/01/2026

We are proud to announce our new Director of Bands for next school year! Please help us welcome Dr. Hawkins!

Dennis A. Hawkins, Jr. has facilitated national and international performances on the podium as a conductor, in ensembles professionally as a trumpet player, in lecture-based courses as an instructor, and administratively as a certified nonprofit professional. Dr. Hawkins is also a published author and reviewer who has a passion for teaching that continues to be cultivated through the support of many mentors with whom he has had the privilege of studying. He finds great inspiration through collaborations with guest artists, composers, educators, and students.

In addition to numerous professional and honor organizations, Hawkins is a proud brother of both the Kappa Alpha and Alpha Alpha chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Eta chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and the Delta Eta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Education: D.M.A - University of Minnesota, M.M. - Youngstown State University, M.M. - Boston University, B.M. - Youngstown State University

04/27/2026

Best of luck with your final exams and jury performances this week! We hope you finish strong!

04/24/2026

Join us tonight for the final concert of the semester.

04/23/2026

The Cardinal Marching Band will be wearing new uniforms for this upcoming season!

Consequently, the current uniforms will soon be for sale! If you would like to purchase your uniform, please visit the Department of Music office during business hours, 8:00AM-4:30PM M-F, to purchase your uniform.
We will be doing in-person sales only.

If you have any question, please reach out to the Department of Music at 989-964-4159 or [email protected].

04/22/2026

Our very generous choir supporter, Professor Curtis Grosse from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, will match every dollar up to $1,000 donated to the Choir Program between today, April 22nd and Friday, April 24th.

Double up your donation by gifting the SVSU Choral Program. Your donations will be directed to choir scholarships for non-music majors for the Fall semester.

Thank you for your generosity!

https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form?svcid=renxt&formId=3b4877e2-47c2-4d80-b4b7-eab158f9f01c&envid=p-JjJw6PoTIUK4mBXjZbwiZg&zone=usa

04/22/2026

Prospective, incoming, and returning students! If you are interested in being a part of the Cardinal Marching Band Drumline, please see information about auditions below!

Cardinal Marching Band Drumline auditions will be held on Monday, April 27th, from 5PM-8PM in Arbury 102. If you’re interested in drumline auditions but have a schedule conflict, contact our Drumline instructor, Dr. Paige Madden, at [email protected].

The audition will not be an individual audition where each person comes in and plays on their own — rather, it will be more like a clinic where we can all play together, take turns on various instruments, learn some exercises and fundamentals together, etc. This means it should be more fun and less scary than a ‘typical’ audition, so don’t be shy! We will use the exercise packets from last year, found in the Drive folder link below. We will also likely learn some simple exercises together by rote.

If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Dr. Madden!

Drive link (also in our bio): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I20KX7jf6FIOmIgWvYoIRcZGgyWNMz5s?usp=sharing

04/22/2026

The SVSU Choirs is once again joined by the Midland Center Chorale to perform the stupendous C Major Mass by Ludwig von Beethoven, commissioned by Prince Nikolaus Esterházy II in 1807. Conducted by Dr. Letícia Grützmann, this concert opens with Beethoven’s Symphony No.1 inaugurating Michigan's new ensemble, Michigan Music Collective, and it brings to Midland hailed soloists Soprano Jenna Ziccardi, Mezzo-Soprano Karen Archbold, Tenor George Milosh, and Baritone Benton DeGroot.

Wednesday, April 22nd
7:30 p.m., Rhea Miller Recital Hall

This concert is free but does require reservation
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/33021886/svsu-ensemble-seriessvsu-choirs-in-concert-university-center-svsuperforming-arts-center

Could not find an available seat? You can purchase a ticket to the same performance taking place at the Midland Center for the Arts on April 19 at 4 pm at Midland Center's Chorale Choir

This event will be livestreamed on YouTube, if you are unable to join us in person we hope you can join us online. https://www.youtube.com/

Seating in balcony is not ADA accessible. Limited accessible seats are available, please email [email protected] if you need an accessible seat.

A special note: This is a concert that requires attention and silence in respect to the performers. It requires about an hour plus of sitting still. Please take this information into consideration when determining kids' endurance to attend this concert without disruption to the audience and performers.