Directors

Mason Meyer is joining the Roosevelt Choir Department as the assistant director this fall of 2021.
Meyer will conduct Chorale and RiderChor, and co-conduct Executive Chamber with colleague Robyn Starks Holcomb, and Intermediate Chorus with Randi Van Der Sloot. In addition, he will serve as supporting director to Executive Suite and Capitol Harmony.
Mason Meyer is a native of Cedar Falls, IA and began studying music in the 5th grade as a band student. In middle school, he joined the school chorus and quickly developed a love for singing. After graduating from Cedar Falls High School, Mason began studying music education at the University of Northern Iowa where he studied voice with Jeffrey Brich, and conducting with Dr. Jon L. Wiles and Dr. Amy Kotsonnis. After graduating from UNI, Mason taught 6-12 vocal music in Jackson, MN. While teaching choir, he also taught private voice, piano, and guitar to a studio of 15 students. He also founded and directed the Southwest Minnesota Community Choir in 2017, a non-auditioned group for adults seeking out opportunities to engage with their neighbors and music. In 2018, Mason moved to Tallahassee, FL to begin studying choral conducting with Dr. Andre Thomas and Dr. Michael Hanawalt at Florida State University. There he assisted in directing the FSU Women's Glee Club with Dr. Judy Arthur, and instructed the FSU Opera Chorus and the FSU Vocal Jazz ensemble. Since graduating from FSU, Mason has taught vocal and general music at Elizabeth Cobb Middle School in Tallahassee.
Mason is in the process of moving to Sioux Falls from Tallahassee with his wife, Hailey, and their two dogs, Penny and Harley. They will be arriving in Sioux Falls in July where they will both begin teaching choral music in the Sioux Falls school district.

Randi Van Der Sloot is honored to have joined Roosevelt’s vocal music program of excellence as Assistant Director this Fall of 2018. She is the director of Freshman Chorus and the co-director of Intermediate Mixed Chorus, as well as the director of Roosevelt's all inclusive show choir, Unity, Inc., and teaches the RISE fundamentals of music classes.

Prior to joining the Roosevelt team, Van Der Sloot spent four years as director of choral activities at Harrisburg South Middle School, and seven years with O’Gorman Junior High and High School in Sioux Falls, directing various choirs and show choirs as well as teaching general music.

Mrs. Van Der Sloot is a graduate of The University of Sioux Falls where she received a bachelor’s degree in Music and a Master’s degree in education. She has been the director of several show choirs that have received numerous accolades throughout the region. She is a motivational clinician and team building specialist for show choirs, choirs, and theater productions across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Robyn Starks Holcomb has been conducting choirs in the high school, middle school and elementary school levels, spanning public and private schools as well as community chorus and church settings throughout her career. Since joining the Roosevelt family in 2011, Starks Holcomb has watched the program grow to twelve choirs serving over 600 singers every day. She is the conductor of Roosevelt High School’s Concert Choir, Executive Suite, Capitol Harmony, Melodia and co-conducts Executive Chamber with colleague Mason Meyer and Freshman Chorus with Randi Van Der Sloot. Under her direction, the Roosevelt Concert Choir performed at the 2020 Central/North Central ACDA conference in Milwaukee, was a 2019 National Finalist for The American Prize Award in Choral Performance, appeared at the 2016 NC-ACDA Regional Conference, and has performed for state and regional conferences, in-services, and by invitations across the country including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Also under her direction, Executive Suite was honored to appear at the 2019 National ACDA Conference. Passionate about programming and repertoire, Starks Holcomb is proud to be a part of a department that engages in relationships with living composers and commissioning new work on an annual basis.

Outside of Roosevelt High School, Starks Holcomb spends time in demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician, musical director, choreographer for choral festivals, vocal contests, competitions and regional projects. Most recently, she presented at the 2020 Central/North Central ACDA Conference, the Iowa Choral Directors Association 2019 Summer Symposium and served as a conductor for the Midwest American Honor Choir's 2019 European Tour. Starks Holcomb also spent three weeks in Aix-en-Provence, France, as a selected conducting scholar with the University of Delaware's 2017 Choral Symposium. In 2016, she served as the NC-ACDA Senior High Honor Choir Chair, conducted a Collegiate Honor Choir session for the 2016 NC-ACDA Conference, and is currently the NC-ACDA Senior High R&R Chairperson. She served the SD ACDA as the 2017-2019 Southeast Representative and led a senior high choral reading session at the 2018 combined Central/North Central ACDA conference. Recognition for her choral work and teaching have included: the 2019 CMA Teacher of Excellence Award, 2019 Roosevelt High School Head Director of the Year, 2017 Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award, 2016 SD ACDA Encore Award, 2015 Sioux Falls Teacher of the Year Nominee, and the 2014 Roosevelt High School Director of the Year and 2013 Positive Impact Awards. Starks Holcomb is currently looking forward to the 2021 honor of directing the ICDA All Iowa Show Choir.

A well rounded artist, Starks Holcomb held a faculty position at the Dance Gallery of SD, a prominent school of dance, for 13 years. In addition, she toured as a professional Artist in Residence through the South Dakota Arts Council’s "Artists in Schools and Communities" program, teaching thousands of students of all abilities and levels as well as serving as a clinician for faculty in- services, workshops and collegiate lecture/demonstrations. A musical theatre expert, Starks Holcomb has directed, performed and choreographed over 50 theatrical productions. She has toured throughout the Midwest playing roles with both professional and amateur companies. In January, 2015, BroadwayWorld.com Regional Theater Awards announced Starks Holcomb as Best Music Director for her work with Sioux Empire Community Theater on Little Shop of Horrors. Starks Holcomb spent ten years producing and directing a summer musical theatre camp in Sioux Falls for high school students which has produced talent seen on stages of multiple high school, college and national stages to date.

Robyn Starks Holcomb received undergraduate study at Augsburg University, Minneapolis, received her B.M. in vocal music education from the University of MN, Minneapolis and earned an M.A. Ed. from Augustana University, Sioux Falls.