Born in South Africa, Ilse-Mari joined the music department at Montana State University in 1989. Her principal teachers include Barbara van Wyk and Adolph Hallis, (piano); Betty Pack, Raya Garbousova, Gordon Epperson, and Irene Sharp (cello); and Robert Muczynski, Paul Steg, and Jan Bach (composition); Henk Temmingh and Stephanus Zondagh (organ). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, master’s degrees in Cello Performance, and in Theory and Composition, from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctorate in Cello Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Arizona. Dr. Lee is active as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, and performs regularly at the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Recent performances include performance at the Tippet Rise Arts Center and with the Montana Chamber Music Society, She was awarded the Montana Arts Council Individual Fellowship Award and was selected to perform at the American Cello Congress in Phoenix in 1991. Collaborative performances include performances with the Moscow, Muir and Fry Street string quartets. CD releases include The Duet Album with classical guitarist Stuart Weber, Song of the Cello with pianist Michele Levin, and In Performance at St. Timothy’s with the Muir Quartet. Dr. Lee founded the MSU Cello Ensemble in 1998. The ensemble toured throughout the Northwest, as well as to Italy and Central Europe and China. Active as a composer, Dr. Lee’s compositions have been performed in South Africa, the United States, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia and in China. In 2002, Dr. Lee premiered her Cello Concerto Mandela with the Billings Symphony. Her film scores for Certain Green, and Forced into Comfort, Fighting for Apology were awarded gold medals at the Park City Film Music Festival. Dr. Lee served and the Director and founding Dean of the Honors College at Montana State.

During his thirty-five-year tenure as conductor of the Great Falls Symphony, Gordon Johnson has been known for his energetic performances and dynamic leadership. In addition to his responsibilities in Great Falls, Maestro Johnson continues to maintain a busy schedule having guest-conducting orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Germany, Moldova, and France. Johnson served as the music director of the Glacier Symphony (MT) from 1982 to 1997 and later of the Mesa Symphony (AZ) from 1997 to 2005. He served as the director of orchestras at the Red Lodge Music Festival (MT) from 2006 to 2011. Gordon Johnson has been recognized by the League of American Orchestras. the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Carnegie Hall Foundation for his contribution to the musical arts. The State of Minnesota conferred a special commendation to Johnson, on behalf of its citizens, for recognition of his contributions. Johnson was awarded the Governor’s Award for the Arts by Montana Governor Steve Bullock at a ceremony at the State Capitol in Helena in 2016. In addition to the Great Falls Symphony, he was conductor of the Great Falls Youth Orchestra where he was directly involved in the training of future generations of orchestral musicians. During his many years of concertizing Johnson has served as an accompanist to many superb musicians including world-renowned artists Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Sir James Galway, Evelyn Glennie, and Joshua Bell. Maestro Johnson has been invited to serve on adjudication panels at Arizona State University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Montana, the University of Oregon, Northwestern University, and the Conservatoire Cesar Geoffray, Toulon, France. Gordon J. Johnson is the past president of the Conductors Guild International, an organization dedicated exclusively to the advancement of the art of conducting and to the artistic and professional needs of conductors.

Adam Collins is a sought-after cellist and teacher who has performed around the world as soloist, chamber recitalist, and orchestral cellist. He has appeared in recitals throughout the United States and Canada, Italy, and South Korea. He has served as principal cellist of the Mobile, Columbus, Pensacola, and Albany Symphony Orchestras, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie. As a chamber musician, Adam has performed on the Master Players Chamber Series and the Busan Maru International Music Festival and at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. He is currently the principal cellist of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and the String Orchestra of the Rockies. Adam is also the president of the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras. Dr. Collins is currently lecturer of cello at the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. In addition to teaching cello students, he teaches courses in music theory and interdisciplinary courses in the University of Montana Davidson Honors College. Adam’s cello students have attended the Aspen Music Festival, the Round Top Festival and Institute, and the Brevard Music Center Festival. His students have also won prizes in statewide and regional competitions, including the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras Young Artist Competition and Music Teachers National Association chamber and solo competitions.

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Laura Snellman owns and operates Helena Athletic Club, a small business providing the Helena and surrounding communities with recreational and competitive gymnastics and cheerleading, preschool and after-school programs and other expanded learning opportunities. Laura holds a Level 9 women’s artistic gymnastics judges rating and travels around the northwest coaching and judging every winter. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education from Carroll College and has been actively involved in coaching, mentorship, and instruction of students from preschool to college and beyond for over 20 years. Her son, Charlie, has enjoyed his participation on the Montana Youth Symphony since its inception and it was her support of this endeavor along with her business management and operations experience that led her to the board and treasurer position.

She enjoys multiple equine disciplines with her two daughters and hits the rodeo trail during summers as the driver, groom and gate opener for her oldest daughter, Audrey, a specialty act trick-rider. When not in the gym, symphony audiences or hauling horses Laura enjoys hiking, trail running, fishing, and any quiet moment outdoors, especially in the mountains.

Dennis K. Wentz, MD has had a lifelong interest in music since his childhood days in North Dakota. He is thrilled to be a part of the development of the Montana Youth Symphony. Taking piano lessons from his mother and local teachers, he developed a keen interest in the piano literature and symphonic music. His move to Chicago for college and medical school began a long-term relationship with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other Chicago musical entities, and he remains a CSO subscriber, beginning with the tenure of Fritz Reiner and continuing with Riccardo Muti. He was on the Board of Bravo! Vail in Colorado for 8 years and served as President for 3 years of Intermountain Opera Bozeman and the Montana Chamber Music Society. He is known internationally for his contributions in continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD); While at the American Medical Association (AMA), he focused on the international dimensions of CME and on the development of a global system of CME by creation of mutually acceptable standards. Following his retirement as Director of the AMA’s Division of Continuing Physician Professional Development, he authored a comprehensive history of CME and CPD, Continuing Medical Education: Looking Back, Planning Ahead (Dartmouth College Press/University Press of New England, July, 2011). During fifteen years of leadership at the AMA (1988-2004), he moved the credit system of the AMA's Physician Recognition Award (AMA PRA) to recognize self-directed learning by individual physicians, such as learning related to performance improvement. Prior to joining the AMA, Dr. Wentz was on the faculties of the Schools of Medicine of the University of Maryland, the University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University. He received his B.A. degree from North Central College, his MD degree from the University of Chicago and then trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physician Executives and served as the President of the National Commission for Certification of CME Professionals. His honors include the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Chicago Alumni Association, Distinguished Service Awards from both the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education and the Society for Academic CME, and the Hippocrates Award for Excellence in CME from the Global Alliance for CME.

Jenanne Solberg, principal viola and keyboard, recently retired following a 34-year career teaching and conducting choirs and orchestras in Billings and Whitefish. She has Bachelor and Masters degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Montana, and has served as principal viola of the Casper, WY, Billings, Bozeman and Glacier Symphonies. Ms. Solberg was recognized by Yale University as 1 of 50 Distinguished Music Educators in America, and in 2021 was selected by the National High School Association as Montana's Outstanding Music Educator. Currently, she is the artistic and founding director of North Valley Music School's Camp Festival Amadeus, remains active on several community boards, serves as organist and music director at All Saints Episcopal Church and is a sought-after adjudicator and guest conductor.

Antonio Jarvey is a saxophonist from Great Falls, Montana. Antonio has studied with Dr. Johan Eriksson, Zach Shemon, Dr. Timothy McAllister, Dr. Andrew Bishop, Hal Hugg, and Ron Coons. Antonio has performed with numerous groups, including the Interlochen World Youth Wind Symphony, NYO-USA, Honor Band of America, NAfME All-Northwest Band, Montana All-State Band, and the Montana All-State Jazz Band. Antonio has garnered top prizes from numerous woodwind competitions, including the Medici, London, Paris, and Birmingham International Competitions, the 2020 and 2022 University of Montana Concerto Competitions, the MTNA National Woodwind Competition, and the 2021 and 2023 Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras Young Artist Competition.

As a soloist, Antonio has performed with the Juilliard Symphony, Curtis Institute Symphony, Chinook Winds, Billings Symphony, Great Falls Symphony, Missoula Symphony, Glacier Symphony, Helena Symphony, University of Montana Symphony Orchestra, University of Montana Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University of Montana Concert Band, Great Falls Youth Orchestra, and the Great Falls Municipal Band. As an advocate of new music, Antonio has commissioned works by Elise Arancio, Justin Zeitlinger, Katie Jenkins, Karalyn Schubring, Bryan Kostors, Isabelle Pearson, Sylvia Wood, Owen Kirby, and Veronica Stimpfling.

Antonio received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance at the University of Montana under the direction of Dr. Johan Eriksson. He is currently pursuing his Master's Degree at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University with Professor Taimur Sullivan.

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Amelia R. T. Sears, M.A., M.M.,B.M. is a multi-genre violin and viola instructor, freelance performer, and recording artist. Amelia founded Artwork Music Studio in Missoula in 2015and provides music lessons alongside her husband, Adam Sears. Sheis passionate about supporting others as they define and enact their life goals, which also drew her to the realm of real estate. She is proud to serve her Western Montana community as a Realtor® with Glacier Sotheby’s International Realty.

An active member of the western Montana arts community, Amelia performs with String Orchestra of the Rockies and is frequently featured as a guest artist with the John Floridis band and other incredible local talent. She has performed with Glacier Symphony, Missoula Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Helena Symphony, River Cities Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, and the Festival Amadeus Orchestra where she served as the viola instructor for Camp Festival Amadeus. She has been an adjudicator for the Missoula County Public Schools' District and State Music Festival, and is a current member of MTNA, NAfME, and HFAA. From 2007 to 2018 she was the Production Manager for the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival.

In 2023, Amelia completed a Master of Arts in Music Psychology in Education, Performance and Wellbeing from University of Sheffield, UK. Shealso holds a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Ohio University on a fully funded graduate fellowship and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Honors Society. She earned her Bachelor of Music Business degree at University of Puget Sound. Her longstanding interest in Scandinavian culture led her to apply for the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America adult student instrument loan program in 2018 and was awarded a two-year loan of a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. Amelia and Adam traveled to Norway on honeymoon and enjoyed seeing a piano recital at the home of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg!

Working with artistic teens has been a priority for much of Amelia's life. She has been a counselor for the San Francisco Ballet School and Center Stage Strings Music Camp, now based at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor MI. In 2015 and 2016 she worked as the Workshop Manager for Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival in Bigfork MT, orchestrating the workshop classes and events that showcased Festival Fellowship and Scholarship students. The festival found her sharing the stage with Grammy artist Dweezil Zappa, Kirk Covington, Adam Nitti, Tim Miller, and Kurt Morgan.

In their non-musical time, Amelia and Adam like to garden, work on house projects, and forage for culinary mushrooms. Their dog Bowie prefers frisbee to all other forms of entertainment, although he has been known to curl up in an armchair and drift off to sleep listening to Chopin ballades.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Mario Lopez is currently the Executive Director of the Billings Symphony.

He attended the A.W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts, igniting his passion for music performance on the horn. Mario earned his bachelor’s in music performance at Lynn University’s Conservatory of Music and completed two years of graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During his studies, Mario attended prestigious summer festivals, including Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, Eastern Music Festival, American Wind Symphony Orchestra, and Brevard Music Center Summer Institute. One recital away from obtaining his master’s degree, Mario suffered a lip injury that ended his performance career.

After years of soul searching in the corporate world, he knew that the arts had more to offer him and was fortunate to find a new love in Arts Administration.

Prior to his appointment at the Billings Symphony, Mario held positions in the Education and Community Partnerships realm with the Knoxville Symphony and the Sarasota Orchestra.

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