• Three Groton band members have been selected for the 64th annual South Dakota High School All State Band.  They are Alec Oleson, clarinet, Rachel Blackmun, bass clarinet, and Kaitlin O'Neill, contra bass clarinet.  Alec is a three-year member of the All-State Band.  Rachel has made it for the second time, and this is Kaitlin's first time as a member of the band. 
• The All State Bands are comprised of the best high school band students in South Dakota, selected through annual statewide auditions, held at six different locations during the month of January.  A panel of four judges travels to each site to select the state's top musicians.  Groton continues to have representation in the band year after year, evidence of the talented students in our school as well as the strength of the instrumental music program currently in place.
• This year the event will take place at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, beginning with evening rehearsals on Thursday, March 27th.  The bands will rehearse all day Friday as well as much of the day Saturday, and will conclude the event with the Grand Concert at the T.F. Riggs High School Theatre at 7:00 on Saturday, March 29th.
• Anthony Maiello of George Mason University will serve as the guest conductor of the "Clark Band" and Dr. Richard Mayne of the University of Northern Colorado will direct the "Lewis Band."