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���� alum Jerod Tate (MM ’00, Pastor/Erb), was one of five composers selected to participate in the League of American Orchestras and New Music USA Music’s national composer-orchestra residency program, Music Alive. Tate and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) will partner for the next three years to create music involving their largely American Indian community—an already well-established passion of Tate’s.

Since his first year at ����, Tate has been working to bring American Indian languages and influence to classical music repertoire. When the residency presented itself, which focuses on community involvement, he and SDSO knew it was the perfect opportunity. “It just fit like a glove,” Tate says. “We were optimistic, but when we got it we were all just thrilled.”

Tate plans to spend his time in the residency engaging with the community of all ages. He’s already been teaching children from the reservations in the area for the past 15 years. “A passion of mine is to help young American Indians discover their talent in music,” he says. He’s had success. Tate has come out with three CDs featuring classical recordings of American Indian children’s compositions on Azica records, a label produced  by Alan Bise—another ���� alum—whom Tate met while attending the school.

Tate will be heavily involved in the residency—not just composing music on the side. He says he plans to be in the communities teaching seminars, giving presentations, interacting and helping arrange music for the orchestra. “The composer is really focused heavily in developing the project as well as being the composer,” he says. “Which is fantastic.”

Congratulations, Jerod!