Robyn Starks Holcomb has extensive experience throughout the Midwest as a motivating teacher, musician, actor, choreographer and clinician. The head vocal director at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, SD, 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 for 30 years. After starting at Roosevelt High School in 2011, Starks Holcomb watched the program grow from 250 to 600 singers in her first seven years, serving four academic choirs, three choral ensembles, jazz choir, and four show choirs. In 2022, recovering from the global pandemic and a district boundary shift that split Roosevelt into two high schools, she found herself refocusing and redefining the program for the next chapter. Under Starks Holcomb’s direction, the Roosevelt Concert Choir has performed in the 2016 and 2020 Midwest Region ACDA conferences, as well as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. In addition, the advanced mixed show choir, Executive Suite, was selected to perform at the 2019 National ACDA conference. Outside of Roosevelt High School, Starks Holcomb spends time in demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician, musical director, and choreographer for choral festivals, vocal contests, competitions and regional projects. At the Midwest Regional ACDA level, she has served as Senior High Honor Choir Chair, Collegiate Honor Choir guest speaker, Senior High R&R Chairperson, reading session presenter, and the presenter on a session encouraging Inclusivity in choral programming. Starks Holcomb has served as the SD ACDA Southeast Representative, has been a repeat presenter for the IA ACDA summer conference and served as music director for the 2022 All Iowa Show Choir. Recognition for her choral work and teaching have included: 2026 and 2015 Sioux Falls School District Teacher of the Year Nominee, 2019 CMA Teacher of Excellence, 2019 and 2016 SD ACDA Encore Award, 2019 and 2014 Roosevelt High School Director of the Year, 2017 Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Honor, and 2013 Roosevelt High School Positive Impact Award. A well rounded artist, Starks Holcomb held a faculty position at the Dance Gallery of SD 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 annually as well as serving as a clinician for faculty in- services, workshops and collegiate lecture/demonstrations. A musical theater expert, Starks Holcomb has directed, performed and choreographed over 55 theatrical productions and toured the Midwest playing musical stage 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. Robyn Starks Holcomb received a portion of her undergraduate study at Augsburg University, Minneapolis, received her B.M. in vocal music education from the University of MN, Minneapolis, earned an M.A. Ed. from Augustana University, Sioux Falls, and an Ed.S Administration degree from University of Sioux Falls. She is blessed in life by her husband and three daughters, four canine fur babies, a sense of adventure and the inspiring Roosevelt humans who love to sing. |
Mason Meyer joined the Roosevelt Choir Department as the assistant director Fall of 2021. He conducts Mixed Chorus, Chorale, the RHS Chamber Singers, the RHS Show Bands, and teaches AP Music Theory. Mr. Meyer has judged large and small group contests in the midwest and northern Florida, as well as show choir competitions in the upper-Midwest. He is an active performer, singing with Transept and other engagements throughout the year. He is currently the choral representative for Region 2 of the South Dakota Activities Association, and is the southeast region representative for South Dakota ACDA. Mason 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, he 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, he 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 opportunities to engage with their neighbors in music. In 2018, Mason moved to Tallahassee, FL to begin studying choral conducting with Drs. André Thomas and 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. After graduating from FSU, Mason taught vocal and general music at Elizabeth Cobb Middle School in Tallahassee. Mason lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Hailey, who teaches vocal music at Patrick Henry Middle School, and their son, Holden and daughter, Elyse. |