Popplers Music Supports the University of South Dakota in Enhancing Performing Arts Education
Generous donor support helps elevate practice and teaching spaces with Yamaha pianos.
Popplers Music is proud to support ongoing investments in music education at the University of South Dakota. With the help of a generous gift from donors De and Dave Knudson, the university has strengthened its performing arts facilities through a thoughtful upgrade of its piano inventory.
As part of this initiative, USD refreshed its practice rooms with six Yamaha P22 Upright pianos—an industry standard known for durability and consistency in academic settings. Two Yamaha U1 Upright pianos were also placed in faculty studios, providing enhanced tonal quality and responsiveness for teaching and performance.
These upgrades reflect USD’s commitment to equipping students and faculty with reliable, high-quality instruments that support both daily practice and artistic growth. The university continues to explore opportunities to further enhance its studios, including the potential addition of grand pianos in the future.
Popplers Music has developed a strong relationship with USD’s music faculty and ensembles over the years, including the Rawlins Piano Trio. Faculty members such as Sonja Krauss and Eun-Hee Park have been valued collaborators and frequent performers in Popplers’ guest artist series, contributing to a vibrant musical community across the region. The addition of Evie Chen further strengthens USD’s dynamic and growing faculty.
Popplers Music is honored to play a role in supporting institutions like the University of South Dakota as they continue to invest in the future of music education.
A special thank-you is also due to piano technician Miles Alleven for carefully preparing and tuning all instruments prior to their departure from Popplers’ storage facility. His attention to detail ensured each piano arrived fully performance-ready.
Appreciation is also extended to Advanced Moving for their expert coordination and successful delivery of all instruments to campus, managing the logistics of a large-scale institutional installation with care and precision.
Popplers Music partners with schools, universities, and organizations across the region to support long-term instrument planning, facility upgrades, and performance needs. From practice rooms to performance spaces, our team works closely with institutions to ensure the right instruments are selected, prepared, and maintained for lasting impact.
Popplers Music
Grand Forks, ND 1-800-437-1755
Sioux Falls, SD 1-800-568-2508
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