Rosalind Hofer is a founder and Artistic Director of the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir. She completed 40 hours towards her doctoral degree in choral conducting at the University of Northern Colorado and holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of South Dakota. She is an adjunct Applied Voice Instructor at the University of Sioux Falls. Rosalind has conducted several oratorios including Handel’s “Messiah”, “Elijah”, Vivaldi’s “Gloria”, “The Peaceable Kingdom”, Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and Bach’s “Sleepers Awake.”
A retired public school teacher of 35 years, Rosalind has kept busy in her profession. She is musical director for various children’s musicals at the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts at the Washington Pavilion. Shows under her direction include Legally Blonde Jr., Seussical!, Charlotte’s Web, The Aristocats, Sleeping Beauty, and Lion King Jr. Hofer also directs numerous summer camps including DAPA Sing It! Camp and SPA Music Theatre camp at Harrisburg, South Dakota. Rosalind previously served as the choral chairperson for SDMEA and is a guest conductor at various SDMEA Elementary vocal festivals throughout the state. Her passion is working with children in singing and theatre. Rosalind enjoys traveling with her husband to spend some quality “grandma” time with her grandkids whenever possible!
Laura Petersen, Executive Director, joined the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir team Fall of 2019. Laura has been a music educator for 25 years. She holds a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Vocal Music Education from Minnesota State University. She has spent the majority of her teaching career as Choral Director at Huron High School and most recently was an Elementary Music Specialist in the Harrisburg School District.
Prior to moving to Sioux Falls, Laura was the Founder and Executive Director of “Crescendo Music Experience”, for 11 years, an annual music camp held in Huron for 4th-10th grade students. She is an active music adjudicator and guest conductor in South Dakota having judged for Region I and Region IV music contests as well as invited to conduct Jr. High Festivals in Platte-Geddes, Mellette, Britton, Pierre, and in 2020 the Festival for Young Voices in Brookings. Along with choral and voice education, Laura has a passion for integrating technology into the music classroom and has twice been accepted as a presenter for the SD Technology and Innovation in Education Conference held in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. In addition to being the Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir, she is also employed at Southern Hills Church and teaches “Music, Theatre and Dance for the Elementary Classroom Teacher” at Augustana University.
Mrs. Helen Short is director of the training choir – Coro Dolce (Sweet choir). Helen began her music education career in 1980. She has a Master of Music Education Degree from the University of South Dakota and has studied over 43 additional hours in specialized courses such as Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Kindermusik and World Music Drumming. Her career has taken her into all age groups of students, including graduate level students at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, WI. Helen has served as guest conductor or session facilitator for the SE Minnesota Music Educators Festival, Luther College, South Dakota State University, the American Choral Directors Association, University of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Music Educators Association Music Conference, First Iowa Orff-Schulwerk chapter, Sioux Valley Orff-Schulwerk chapter, Harrisburg Arts Council and the Festival of Young Voices, Worthington, MN. Helen has taught in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. While teaching in Decorah, IA, Helen founded the auditioned choir -Music Friends. During their third season, Music Friends was invited to perform at the International Children’s Choir Festival in Canterbury, England. Helen has a passion for enabling children to understand the technical side of music while having fun creating and performing. Helen currently serves as a substitute teacher for the Harrisburg and Sioux Falls Public school districts.
J.J. Gohl, Accompanist
J.J. Gohl has been the accompanist for the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir from the choirs founding in 2015.