Pauline Lunde, Director

Pauline Lunde is Founder and Executive Director of the Rapid City Children’s Chorus. Mrs. Lunde, retired, has taught high school choral music and was a Music Specialist in the Rapid City School District for 27 years. She was Elementary Coordinator for 10 years. She is the recipient of the 1992 SD-Music Educators Association Outstanding Service Award and was honored by the Chamber of Commerce Cultural Affairs Committee as a recipient of the 1999 Rushmore Honors Award. In 2000, she was presented with the Rapid City Area School District’s Millinium Starfish Award. Mrs. Lunde has a Level II Certification in Orff-Schulwerk and is a past president of Delta Kappa Gamma-Nu Chapter.

Ann Deckert, Artistic Director Ann Deckert joined the Rapid City Children’s Chorus as an assistant director in the fall of 1992. She served as director of the Camerata Choir and assistant director of the Cadet Choir through last season, when she was named Artistic Director of the Rapid City Children’s Chorus. Mrs. Deckert graduated from Spearfish High School and received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD in 1991. She is currently in her 14th year in the Rapid City Area Schools where she is a Music Specialist, Teaching vocal music at Pinedale Elementary and Dakota Middle School. She received her Orff-Schulwerk Level I certification from Hamline University in 1991, and Level II from St. Thomas University, St. Paul, Minnesota. She has completed levels I and II of World Music Drumming with Will Schmid and World Choral Music with Nick Page and Lynn Brinckmeyer. Mrs. Deckert has performed with Black Hills Voices in Concert, Black Hills Symphony Chorus, and Emmanuel Episcopal Glory Handbell Ringers. She is a soloist and has sung throughout the hills area, as well as serving as an accompanist. She is a member of RCEA, SDEA, NEA, Black Hills Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, American Choral Director’s Association, and Alpha Delta Kappa. Mrs. Deckert served as program co-chair for the South Dakota 2000 Mid-Winter ACDA Conference, and as the exhibits chair for the 2004 North Central Division ACDA Conference. She has presented on several occasions for BH-AOSA. In 2001, she was presented an “Award of Excellence” from the South Dakota Association for Middle Level Education for her role in the implementation of the World Music Drumming curriculum at Dakota Middle School. Ann is currently serving as the Children’s Chorus Repertoire and Standards Chairperson for South Dakota ACDA.

Gloria Harrison, Director Emeritus; Director of Education & Development Gloria Brandt Harrison graduated from Florence High School and received her BA in vocal performance from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD. Retired in May, 2003, Gloria taught in Rapid City for 28 years, 1969-1970 at Meadowbrook Elementary School, 1970-1974 at West Junior High School, and 1980-2003 choral music grades 6-8 at Dakota Middle School. She was Artistic Director of the Rapid City Children's Chorus since it’s beginning in the summer of 1986 thru 2004. She now serves on the RCCC board as Director of Education and Developement. Mrs. Harrison's professionalism is evidenced by her dedication to young people. She was the Rapid City Area School District Teacher of the Year and a candidate for South Dakota Teacher of the Year in 1989. Ms. Brandt is recognized for her excellence in teaching by being selected for Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 1989, 1996, 1998, and 2004. She has also been selected for Who’s Who in American Education, 2006 and Who’s Who in American Women for 2006. She developed and directed the South Dakota Ambassador of Excellence choral group who performed for the 8th World Conference for the Talented and Gifted in Sydney, Australia in 1989. Under Mrs. Harrison's direction, the Rapid City Children's Chorus has had audition tapes selected for SD-ACDA, SD-MEA, North Central ACDA, North Central MEA and the 1993 National ACDA Convention. The chorus performed and participated in America Sings! Inc. in Washington, DC, in 1989. The choir participated in the Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival under the direction of Henry Leck in July, 2002. The Rapid City Children's Chorus performed in Carnegie Hall in 1996, 1999, and November, 2003 and appeared on the Today Show in 1996 and 1999. Gloria Harrison has served as Junior High/Middle School Repertiore and Standards Chair for SD-ACDA, Hospitality Co-chair for the 1994 North Central ACDA Convention in Rapid City, and was co-chair of the 1995 summer Conference of SD-ACDA in Brookings. She organized the first South Dakota Junior Honor Choir for grades 7-9 in Pierre at the SD-ACDA Mid-Winter convention in January, 1993. She is the recipient of the first SD-ACDA Encore Award for her contribution to Choral Music. She received the Dakota Wesleyan University Alumni Association Outstanding Educator Award in 1997. Mrs. Harrison is a 1998-1999 graduate of the Technology in Teaching and Learning Academy and a DTL (Distance Teaching and Learning) 2000 graduate. She has written several grants for music technology and presented for TIE (Technology in Education). She is a member of OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators) and ACDA (American Choral Director's Association). She received Level I certification for World Music Drumming with Will Schmid in June, 2000, and Level II certification for World Music Drumming in June, 2001. She was presented an Award of Excellence from the South Dakota Association for Middle Level Education on April 6, 2001 for implementing the World Music Drumming Curriculum at Dakota Middle School. She was presented the “Distinguished Service to Music” award from SDMEA (South Dakota Music Educators Association) in November, 2003. On January 21, 2005, South Dakota ACDA presented Mrs. Harrison the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution in choral music in South Dakota. Gloria and her husband, Loren, live southwest of Rapid City, and enjoy gardening in their greenhouse and working in their woodshop.

Pam Baum, Concert Choir Accompianist

Pamela Baum is a South Dakota native from Spearfish. She earned a degree in Vocal Music at Augustana College. From high school, through college, and to the present time, Pam has accompanied many vocal and instrumental soloists and groups. She has been a church organist for many years. Currently, Pam teaches French and Spanish at Douglas High School at Ellsworth Air Force. Pam is the music director at All Angels Episcopal Church in Spearfish.

Dara Baum, Camerata Choir Director Dara Baum joined the staff of the RCCC as Assistant Director in 2001. She conducts the Cadet Choir. Dara received her Bachelor Of Education in Music from Black Hills State University. Mrs. Baum has taught in several districts in the Black Hills area and is currently Choral Director at South Middle School. She has sung with Black Hills Chorale, Black Hills Symphony Chorus, Top Hats and Roses, and Dakota Choral Union. She is active at her church where she sings in the adult choir, ladies Ensemble and directs the children’s choirs. Dara is a member of ACDA (American Choral Director’s Association), and OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators).

Marlys Schoernborn, Camerata Choir Accompianist

Marlys Schoeborn is beginning her 13th year as assistant accompanist for RCCC. Marlys has taught both orchestra and general music in elementary schools in Rapid City. She is presently the music specialist at St. Elizabeth Seton School. She is a member of BH-AOSA (Black Hills Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association) and is certified in Levels I and II of Orff -Schulwerk. Marlys enjoys playing viola in the Black Hills Symphony and saxophone in the summer band.

Mark Schoenbon, Financial Director of Accounts