A Trip Back to the Tundra

 Last Thursday we flew back to South Dakota to attend a very special event on Saturday in Rapid City. It was windy on our drive from Sioux Falls to Rapid City but the temperatures were in the 30ºs. There was hardly any snow (NOT like last year!) from the southeast part of the state to the west central area. The drive was uneventful, just the way we like it!

We were in Rapid City for the weekend to attend the 2025 SD Junior Honors Choirs. There were two, the Women's Choir composed of 7th-9th graders and the Mixed Choir, also 7th-9th graders from across the state.

Last year Miss W was in the Women's Choir of the 2024 SD Junior Honors Choir. Here is last year's post from the concert. 

Kyle Peterson, a SD composer, was featured in two of their choral numbers. The students met and conversed with Kyle through a Zoom call during their weekend rehearsal.

The former Rapid City Central High School was the location of the concert. 

The stage waiting for the singers.

The theater has balcony seating on three sides. The theater holds 800+.

waiting for group photo

Mixed Choir group photo

the Women's Choir

sopranos and tenors

the conductor for the Mixed Choir

a little clapping and some movement

some of the details in the auditorium

Besides the Performing Arts Center, the building also serves as the Alternative High School.

History of Rapid City High School :

• The building was originally built in 1923 
• It was the first site of Rapid City Central High School 
• The school was also known as Dakota Junior High School and Dakota Middle School 
• In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge announced his decision not to run for president from the school 
• The school was renamed Coolidge High School after Coolidge's visit 
• The school moved to a new location on Mount Rushmore Road North in 1978 
• The original location was renovated and reopened as Rapid City High School in 2013 

Features: 

• The school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• It also hosts the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City