Choral Director – Shannan Masten
Shannan Masten graduated from Kennesaw State University with a bachelor of music in choral music education and from Louisiana State University with a master of music in choral conducting. This is Masten’s third year at RHS. Most recently, she was the assistant choral director at Noblesville High School. Prior to NHS, Masten directed at Johns Creek High School in Georgia and was the children’s and youth choir director at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She won the 2017 Shuler Award for music direction for the JCHS production of “Cinderella” and was a nominee for music direction for the 2018 JCHS production of “42nd Street.” Prior to JCHS, Mrs. Masten taught music theory for the Savannah Children’s Choir summer camp and student taught at Hillgrove High School in Cobb County. Mrs. Masten currently performs in Coro Vocati, a professional chamber choir based out of Atlanta.
Shannan married her wonderful husband, Alex Masten, in October 2021. They just welcomed their first child, Xander, to the world in April 2023! Alex and Shannan met in Coro Vocati 8 years ago and have been besties ever since! Their shared love for choral music (and each other) grew stronger with every rehearsal weekend, retreat and concert. And so, none other than John Dickson (director of Coro Vocati and the man who brought them together) officiated this soprano and tenor duo’s wedding. They currently reside in Carmel, Indiana and are enjoying life with their son and two sweet golden retrievers, Finn and Nala.
Mrs. Masten is thrilled to work with such an incredible ensemble of students and colleagues at Roncalli!
There are several choirs offered to students at Roncalli. Anyone who loves to sing, regardless of their vocal experience, is invited to join either the Beginning Women’s Chorus or the Beginning Mixed Chorus. Students who have more of a choral background and who qualify by audition can be a part of the Intermediate Mixed Choir or one of the two advanced choirs – Advanced Women’s Chorus or Royal Rhapsody, the show choir. All five of these choirs perform in Roncalli’s three major concerts: the Sacred Sounds concert in the fall, the winter Christmas concert, and the Pops concert in the spring.
In addition, the advanced choirs compete in the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) competition in the winter. Roncalli choirs have a very successful history in these competitions.
We are looking forward to an incredibly exciting and successful year for the Roncalli Choirs!