Hotline // February 25, 2026

VCSU Music Hosting Concerts During Viking Voice Festival

The Valley City State University Music Department will host two public concerts February 27-28 as part of the Viking Voice Festival, a two‑day event welcoming select vocalists from area high schools.

Festival participants will take part in masterclasses, individual lessons and solo performance coaching with guest clinicians. All participants will perform at the concluding Festival Concert, which will include group pieces and featured soloists and ensembles.

All events will be held at VCSU’s Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. The concerts are free and open to the public at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

The Viking Voice Festival also includes a free public seminar put on by guest clinician Dr. Diane White-Clayton, a music faculty from UCLA. The seminar is titled “Spiritual and Gospel Choral Techniques”and takes place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. It is free and open to the public. Affectionately known as Dr. Dee, White-Clayton holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in music composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She travels extensively as an artist, conductor and clinician, and her choral compositions have been performed across the globe.

Two of White-Clayton’s works will be featured in Friday’s concert, which includes performances by the VCSU Concert Choir, VCSU Opera Ensemble, Jamestown Community Women’s Choir, and soloists Heather Hjelle, Dr. Stephen Cunningham, and Heather Aune.

The Festival concludes Saturday with a 3 p.m. performance showcasing the Viking Voice Festival Choir. In addition to full‑ensemble pieces, several participating students will present solo selections.

For those unable to attend in person, both concerts will be live streamed on the VCSU Music YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@valleycitystateuniversitym1972/streams

Science faculty and students attend ND Chapter of The Wildlife Society annual meeting

Dr. Bob Anderson and Trista Montgomery attended the 2026 North Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society (NDCTWS) Annual Meeting earlier this month along with 12 students from the VCSU Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society.

At the meeting, Montgomery was elected to the NDCTWS Executive Board. Janet King and Amber Kologi, fisheries and wildlife students, presented their research posters at the event. Kologi was awarded the Bill Bicknell Legacy Scholarship and Lorenzo Luchi was elected Student Liaison to the state chapter. Conservation professionals from around the state of North Dakota commended VCSU students for their involvement and stewardship!

Viking Sports Update

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Viking Women wrapped up their season last weekend, splitting the two games with Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College. Friday, the Vikings had a thrilling win over Carroll College. On Saturday, Rocky Mountain College defeated the Vikings in the regular season finale. The Vikings recognized five young women who were playing their final game as a Viking. Aubrey Prunty, Ellie Powell, Tilda Mauritzson, Madison Spacher, and JayCee Richter. The Vikings end the season 10-16.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Men concluded their season as well at Concordia College last weekend. The Vikings dropped a 95-77 decision to Carroll College on Friday. On Senior Day Saturday, Rocky Mountain College, the top team in the conference and #11 in the nation, ended the Vikings hopes of reaching the postseason tournament. Four seniors wrapped up their Viking careers on Saturday. Kaleb Larson, JR Cison, Caden Grinde, and Nick Larson. VCSU ends the season 10-17.

SOFTBALL
The Viking softball team had a great weekend in Sioux Center, Iowa, going 3-1 at the ASB Classic. The Vikings won twice on Saturday. Then on Sunday, VCSU split the two games. The Vikings are 7-5 on the season and are headed to Tucson, Arizona for 10 games at the Tucson Invitational.

BASEBALL
The Vikings split a double header with Mount Marty in Yankton, South Dakota. The three game weekend series was trimmed to a doubleheader on Tuesday due to cold weather over the weekend. VCSU is 6-5 on the season and head to Orlando, Florida for ten games at the RussMatt Invitational.

TRACK AND FIELD
The Indoor season culminated in the Frontier Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday and Sunday in Brookings, South Dakota. Friday Barrera and Jordan Mount earned All-Conference accolades for their performances. Barrera and Carlee Fuchs also set school records in four events. Also, Fuchs and Isaac Eichhorst were named Champions of Character for Valley City State. Track is off until March 21st when they begin the outdoor season at the Marauder Outdoor Open in Bismarck.

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...

February 27
Barnes County Tournament: District 1 Boys

March 2 & 3
Barnes County Tournament: District 1 Boys

Find out what’s happening at VCSU: https://www.vcsu.edu/news-events/

Find out what’s happening in the community: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/