2021 College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame Recipients

André P. Larson (posthumous)

André P. Larson (posthumous) earned two degrees from USD: a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music education in 1964 and a Master of Music degree in music literature with a minor in theatre in 1968. He received his Ph.D. in musicology from West Virginia University in 1974. André was hired in 1972 to be the first director of The Shrine to Music Museum (later named the National Music Museum) in Vermillion, South Dakota. He conceptualized, articulated and implemented plans for the development of the museum, focusing on the development of the museum’s collections. André placed his father Arne’s more than 3,000 instruments at the National Music Museum’s core, and then boldly built upon those holdings. Under his leadership, the National Music Museum developed into a world-class museum. It is now one of the world’s largest and most important collections of musical instruments, preserving many of the crown jewels of music history. Among André’s favorites--acquired under his leadership and donor inspiration--are the famed 16th-century “King” cello by Andrea Amati, the “Harrison” Stradivari violin, Johnny Cash’s “Bon Aqua” guitar and the D’Angelico/D’Aquisto/Gudelsky guitar-workshop collection.

André was a professor of music at USD, and he established the Center for Study of the History of Musical Instruments at the university, offering the nation’s only graduate degree in the history of musical instruments. He served as the president of the American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS) for three terms between 1981-1987. He was the recipient of the Curt Sachs Award in 1990, the highest honor his peers could bestow, “in recognition of his connoisseurship, skill, and perseverance in creating a major international resource in South Dakota for the study, exhibition, and conservation of historical musical instruments.” He was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2006.

Wayne S. Knutson (posthumous)

Wayne S. Knutson (posthumous) earned a Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College in 1950, a Master of Arts from USD in 1951 and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver in 1956. All degrees were in the combined fields of English and Theatre. Wayne returned to USD in 1956 and was appointed director of the University Theatre. In 1970, he was selected to be on the South Dakota Arts Council under the National Endowment for the Arts and served for several years as the chair. One year after his service to the Arts Council, he was selected to be a member of the South Dakota Humanities Council under the National Endowment for the Humanities. He served for two years as its chair and was thus the first person to have served both councils as chair. Wayne became dean of the College of Fine Arts in 1972 during final preparations to occupy the new Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts. After his service of nine years as dean, he was asked to become the vice president for academic affairs. During his last year of teaching at USD (1986-87), he was appointed the University Distinguished Professor by the South Dakota Board of Regents; his was the first such appointment by the regents. Wayne was an ardent supporter of America’s Shrine to Music Museum (now the National Music Museum) and for twenty-five years helped ensure its survival.

During Wayne’s years of teaching, he lectured extensively around the country, adjudicated more than 500 plays, and judged more than 10,000 high school students in theatre and oral interpretation. In 1990, former students and colleagues initiated The Wayne S. Knutson Endowment to honor his 35 years of service to the university and the state of South Dakota. He asked that his wife's name be added to the name of the endowment for her support throughout his career. Income from the endowment has steadily increased, and, over the years, more than 100 scholarships have been awarded in their name. In addition, the College of Fine Art’s most distinguished recognition for faculty, the Wayne S. and Esther M. Knutson Distinguished Professor Award, is funded through this endowment. Wayne received many honors, including the Distinguished Service Award from the South Dakota Speech Association, the South Dakota Governor’s Award for Creative Achievement in the Arts, the Burlington-Northern Faculty Achievement Award, the Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities from the South Dakota Humanities Council Award, election into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, and many more. His biography first appeared in the 40th edition of “Who’s Who in America.” The main stage theatre at USD was renamed the Wayne S. Knutson Theatre in his honor in 1999. (Accepting on behalf of Wayne, son Jon Knutson)

Frank J. Aiello

Frank J. Aiello earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music from Drake University and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Oklahoma. His teachers included Andrew White, Life Chair Cincinnati Conservatory; Leila Edwards, Coach Metropolitan Opera; Hermanus Baer, Chairman Northwestern University; Norman Tattersall, fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, England; and Margaret Swain, coach-accompanist for Dame Eva Turner, Royal Academy, London. He performed extensively in the Midwest and elsewhere, including a Kennedy Center performance representing South Dakota in 1976. In addition to performing, Frank has been very active as an adjudicator, both regionally and nationally, and he served on the Music Teacher’s National Association board for vocal literature and contest requirements.

Frank came to USD in 1968 and taught studio voice at USD for 33 years. During that time, he twice served as chair for the Department of Music. He guided students in the development of impeccable vocal technique and brought many students to a level that enabled them to pursue professional singing after graduation. His voice students have won Music Teacher’s National Association contests, National Federation of Music Clubs contests and Metropolitan Opera auditions at the state, regional and national levels. Several former students have performed professionally in opera and music theatre, in the United States and abroad, and others are teaching at colleges and public schools. He received USD’s highest teaching award, the Belbas-Larson Award for Excellence in Teaching, in 1994. Most recently, he taught at the 2019 Brancaleoni Music Festival in Piobbico, Italy. He can be credited with establishing the excellence of the USD vocal program, which continues to this day.

Doug and Sue Tuve

Doug and Sue Tuve are passionate supporters of the fine arts at USD. Susan Tuve attended USD from 1965-67. Although she finished her degree at the University of Minnesota, the Vermillion native’s loyalty remained rooted to the community and her Coyote years. Following graduation she worked in trust and investment banking, a career that spanned 35 years. However, even from afar Susan volunteered much of her time to the university. She aided in initiating the Twin Cities alumni lunch club and served on the USD Foundation board of directors. She served as chair from 2002-2003. In 2005, she and Doug moved to Vermillion when she accepted the position of director of planned giving at the foundation. She has also served and is serving on the boards of several community organizations, including the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation, the Dakota Hospital Foundation, the Vermillion Cultural Association and the Vermillion Community Foundation.

Doug retired as owner of Convergence Media Services video engineering . He received degrees from California Lutheran University, Luther Seminary and the University of Minnesota. Since moving to Vermillion he has been involved with Rotary, serving as treasurer, and in 2017 was named Rotarian of the Year. He is also a member of the Vermillion Planning and Zoning Commission, a Mason, a USD Foundation trustee and is currently a deacon at the Vermillion United Church of Christ. For many years he has sung with the Men’s and Women’s Chorus at USD and also with the choir at church.

Together the Tuves have supported the college in a variety of ways. In 2013, they established the Douglas and Susan Distinguished Professorship in Choral Music. They provided funding for the floor in the art gallery, and funded a scholarship endowment for theatre. They enjoy providing a home to South Dakota Shakespeare Festival actors during the month of rehearsals. They also help support the Choral Music Support Endowment and the Opera Guild. A highlight of every year is traveling with the USD Chamber Singers on their annual tour. They are deeply committed to supporting the arts at the university and in the community and hope they have inspired others to support the arts.

Oscar Howe (posthumous)

Oscar Howe (posthumous): Yanktonai Dakota, named Mazuha Hokshina by his people, was born on May 13, 1915 at Joe Creek on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation in central South Dakota. He completed grade school at the Pierre Indian School and entered the Santa Fe Indian School in 1935 to work in the art program established by Dorothy Dunn, graduating as salutatorian in 1938. Between 1940 and 1942, Howe worked as an artist with the South Dakota Works Progress Administration completing mural projects in Mitchell and Mobridge, South Dakota. Following three years of service in the U.S. Army in the European Theatre, Howe entered Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1954. Howe taught at Pierre High School until 1957 when he became artist-in-residence and professor of art at USD where he served until retiring in 1980 as Emeritus Professor of Art.

Howe was on the cutting edge of his generation in the exploration of ways to break out of the stereotypes imposed on Native artists and to seek contemporary ways of communicating Native American values and ideas. Over a 40-year career, Howe earned many honors and awards, including numerous grand and first prizes in national competitions. In 1954, Howe was named Artist Laureate of the Middle Border and in 1960, Artist Laureate of South Dakota. In 1966, he was awarded the Waite Phillips trophy for outstanding contributions to American Indian art from the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Howe was the first recipient of the South Dakota Governor’s Award for Creative Achievement in 1973. He received the Golden Bear Award from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, in 1979. An exhibition honoring Oscar Howe will open on March 12, 2022 at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian in New York City. The exhibit will be there six months before traveling to the Portland, Oregon Art Museum. A scholarly/catalogue book about Oscar Howe’s Art is being published by the Smithsonian to accompany this exhibit. Howe’s accomplishments are documented and honored at USD through the Oscar Howe Memorial Association, the Oscar Howe Lecture, the Oscar Howe Archives, the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute and the Oscar Howe Art Gallery.