Gold Star Concert Band

Events Calendar - Calendar of events for the Gold Star Band

Media Archives - Gold Star Band media archives

Newsletter - 2007 Gold Star Band Newsletter

The NDSU Gold Star Concert Band is the premiere instrumental ensemble at North Dakota State University. This ensemble is an audition group which meets in the Fall and Spring of each year.

The Concert Band starts with auditions the first week of school. After the auditions, it then meets on Tuesday and Thursday every week in the Fall and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of every week in the Spring. The Band usually has two concerts during the year as well as taking a week long tour in the Spring around the tri-state area and Canada, stopping at different high schools and colleges.

The Concert Band roots can be traced back to 1904 when the late Dr. C. S. Putnam organized a military band to perform for functions of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). The band acquired its "Gold Star" designation from the many superior ratings earned during annual ROTC federal inspections. During the tenure of William Euren, a protege of "Doc" Putnam, the Concert Band guided the transition from a traditional military band to that of a polished concert ensemble. Euren began the tradition of annual concert tours in the United States and Canada. Roger Sorenson served as Director of Bands from 1968 to 1970. During the tenure of Orville M. Eidem, the band program continued to grow and flourish. Eidem established a new standard of excellence for the jazz program and in 1987 secured a new Assistant Director of Bands position. Upon Eidem's retirement, his assistant, Wayne F. Dorothy, became the director of bands, holding the position until 1999, at which time Warren D. Olfert became director of bands.