About Us

The Rolla Choral Arts Society (RCAS) was formed to support and promote choral music in our local community. The RCAS was created to merge the following existing community organizations; Rolla Chamber Singers, Rolla Men of Song, Rolla Community Children’s Choir, and the Rolla Vocal Music Boosters. The Rolla Choral Arts Society is registered in Missouri as a non-profit corporation, and enjoys 501c3 not-for-profit status with the federal government.

RCAS is led by a Board of Directors representing all of the groups involved. Current RCAS Board Members include:  Cindy Beger, James Blount, Dottie Cook, George Hoemann, Mary Kwantes, Debbie Priesmeyer, Steve Skelton, Jane Tummons, Bruce Wade, and Roger Weaver.  In addition to the Board of Directors, ex-officio members include; Jeff Sandquist (Artistic and Executive Director),  Jason Bartelsmeyer (Rolla Jr. and Sr. High), and Dr. Joan Murray (Rolla Middle School).

RCAS receives partial funding through a grant from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

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Jeffrey L. Sandquist is the artistic and executive director for the Rolla Choral Arts Society.  As artistic director, he directs three of the ensembles (Rolla Community Children’s Choir, Rolla Community Choir, and Rolla Men of Song).  Mr. Sandquist earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music where he received the Division Achievement Award for Masters in Vocal Studies in 1995.  He also holds bachelor’s degrees in music education and vocal performance from the University of Central Missouri, (formerly Central Missouri State University) in Warrensburg.  Mr. Sandquist serves as the director of music for the First Presbyterian Church of Rolla where he conducts the Chancel Choir and the Bell Choir, a position he has held for the last thirty years.  He retired after teaching for 30 years in Missouri public schools, with the last 24 years as choral director and department chair in the Rolla Public Schools.  He is a past-president of the Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association (SWACDA), Missouri Choral Directors Association, and the Missouri Music Educators Association.  He serves as the chair for the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education. He is the state coordinator for the Missouri Ambassadors of Music European tour, and was on staff with the American Choral Directors Association National Youth Honor Choir European tour to Washington D. C., Prague, and Vienna. He served as the Interim Director of Choral Activities at Southeast Missouri State University in the Spring of 2016, and was an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Missouri School of Music, and at Columbia College in 2016 -17.  He currently teaches music K-8 at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Rolla.