Our Story
In 1978, the young singer and MSU voice teacher Verity Bostick sparked the interest of Anthony Stivanello, a prominent New York opera producer, with her desire to form Montana’s first opera company in Bozeman. For the inaugural performance of Verdi’s La Traviata, Mr. Stivanello agreed to donate sets, costumes and his services to the production. Mr. Pablo Elvira - the Puerto Rican born Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera baritone who resided in Gallatin Valley - was the third co-founder. He went on to serve as the Artistic Director of the company for many years, as well as performing title roles. The new company caught the interest of East Coast opera critics like Opera News who assigned reporters to cover Intermountain Opera Bozeman’s first season.
During the second season, IOB produced Rossini’s The Barber of Seville starring Pablo Elvira in the title role and major New York City soloists singing other leading roles. Anthony Stivanello again furnished sets and costumes and directed the production.
At this time, Mrs. Robert W. Martin, Jr. became a member of the Board and subsequently President of the Association. A benefactor and patron of the arts with contacts throughout the country, “Ginny” solicited funds through organizations and individuals and gave her own generous support to meet the Association’s annual budgets. Her financial and organizing contributions - along with her total commitment to opera in Montana - have been invaluable to the basic structure and success of the Association. Mrs. Martin passed away in 2016.
In 1996, Linda Curtis took over the role of Artistic Director from Pablo Elvira. Under her leadership, IOB broadened its audience, improved the artistic quality of its productions, and expanded from one to two to three staged works per season.
In 2008, Jackie Vick joined the organization as Executive Director. Under her leadership, the two-opera season was solidified, the Sustaining Member Society was created, and a winter musical was added to the two-opera season.
Following the retirement of Linda Curtis and Jackie Vick in 2020 and 2021, Susan Miller was appointed IOB’s first-ever General Director, conductor Michael Sakir was appointed Artistic Director, and Genevieve Trygstad-Burke was named IOB’s first-ever Development Director. This new leadership continues to prioritize sharing the highest artistic quality while also expanding programming and educational opportunities and broadening IOB’s reach in Montana and beyond.
