Steven A. Butler, MD, Treasurer
Past President NOVA Center for the Performing Arts

Otolaryngologist Ear, Nose, Throat Surgeon at ENT Associates , Billings MT.  Fellow, American College of Surgeons Member, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Shannon Powers Davis, Vice President
ACEd ESL/Language Arts Instructor ACEd Tech Department Chair

At Large Members

Christopher Davis

Bethany Smith - Jacobs

Sarah Waggoneer

Laurel Linde

Virginia Mermel PhD

Karen Postema, retired Speech-Language Pathologist

Christopher Davis, Rimrock Opera member at large. Chris teaches business at SD2 Senior High School, Billings Montana. A native of Wales, United Kingdom, Chris joined Rimrock Opera during the production of the first opera written in Welsh, "Blodwen" in 2019.

Virginia Mermel, PhD, CNS, member at large. Ginny Mermel is described as a visionary leader who is committed to feeding hungry children, having been instrumental in establishing Backpack Meals and Teen Pantry Programs for students. She also helped increase School Breakfast Program participation and assisted in launching an annual food drive in Billings.

Karen Postema, Secretary, is a retired speech-language pathologist

Bethany Smith-Jacobs, member at large. Bethany is the artistic director and co-creator of Opera on Tap-Wyoming. As a classically trained soprano, Bethany holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is an avid performer in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana and has worked with companies such as the Boulder Philharmonic, Rimrock Opera, Loveland Opera Theatre and the Denver Opera Collective. Recently, Bethany played the title role of Cinderella, as well as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, both with Rimrock Opera.
As a music director, Bethany has worked with Theatre West in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players. Bethany is a music instructor at Laramie County Community College where she directs the choral program along with teaching voice and other music courses. She also adjudicates music festivals throughout the region and serves as music director/lead vocalist at the First Christian Church of Cheyenne.

Sarah Waggoner, member at large.
Miss Waggoner graduated with a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance from Pensacola Christian College, Florida. While studying in Pensacola, Miss Waggoner performed the role of Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, as well as performed in several other operas, including Ruddigore and L’elisir da’more.
Sarah has sung leading roles with Rimrock Opera and NOVA Center for the Performing Arts including Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Ernestine in Monsieur Choufleuri, Euridice in Orpheus and Euridice, and Miss Silverpeal in The Impresario.
Recent Rimrock Opera roles include The Fairy Godmother in Viardot's Cinderella and Salome in Strauss' Salome. The Billings resident is devoted to bringing opera to life for her community and has enjoyed the variety of roles she's been able to perform.
In addition to performing and working full-time at Billings Clinic, Sarah enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, spoiling her two cats, and giving her niece voice lessons.

Laurel Linde, Rimrock Opera member at large.
Laurel has been a Clarinetist for the Rimrock Opera Orchestra since its inception in 1999. Laurel has been President of Yellowstone Chamber players for 10 years, and Treasurer of Yellowstone Chamber Players for 3 years. Laurel is a member of First Presbyterian Church, a musician with Billings Symphony, and the Yellowstone Chamber Players.

Webmaster
Dennis Kern
edited by Amanda Barr

Rimrock Opera Executive Office
P. O. Box 114
Billings, MT 59103
Phone: 406-818-1119