Meet the Directors

Erin Small

Co-Founder, Choral Director, World Drumming Instructor

Erin Small is an elementary general music teacher in the Billings School District and joyfully serves over 400+ kids per week. Erin also spent the first ten years of her career as a middle school choir director. She earned both her master’s and bachelor degrees from Montana State University in Bozeman, and is a certified member of the VoiceCare Network.

Erin has had the fortunate opportunity to be a guest conductor for various youth choirs across the state, and also directed youth choirs for the Rimrock Opera Chorus for Kids and Billings Youth Orchestra and Chorale. Erin performs throughout the community with the High Plains Chamber Singers, and has also performed in productions with Venture/Nova Theatre, Prince Theatre, Rimrock Opera, and the Billings Symphony. She enjoys traveling around Montana to adjudicate both choirs and vocalists of all ages.

Amy Schendel

Co-Founder, Choral Director, Music Theatre Ensemble and Acting Instructor

Amy Schendel now serves as the Fine Arts Education Coordinator for the Billings Public Schools after directing choirs at Skyview High School for 16 years. She holds bachelors degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Education, as well as a Master of Music Education from the University of Montana. She is a certified member of the VoiceCare Network and holds her K-12 principal licensure for the state of Montana.

Amy is heavily involved in the music community state-wide. In addition to her teaching, she enjoys playing clarinet and singing for the Billings Symphony, singing onstage for Rimrock Opera, Glacier Symphony and local community theaters, music directing and playing in pit orchestra, guest conducting, adjudicating and teaching at camps around Montana and Wyoming.

Lynette Tedlund

Collaborative Pianist and Folk Songs and Sing-Along Instructor

Lynette Tedlund maintains a full piano studio in her home and was the Early Childhood through Eighth Grade music instructor at Grace Montessori Academy for 10 years. She has been the pianist for musicals including West Side Story, Les Miserables, Sound of Music, and Into the Woods, and musical director for Guys on Ice.

Lynette loves to work with superior directors such as Amy and Erin, and has accompanied many Billings choral organizations including Rimrock Opera Chorus for Kids, Skyview High School, MSU-B, Girls Honor Choir, Billings Youth Orchestra Chorale, and Rimrock Opera.

Lynette’s favorite singing roles onstage have been Vivian in “Church Basement Ladies,” Melpomene in “Xanadu,” and Marcellina in “Marriage of Figaro.” She is a past member of High Plains Chamber Singers, and has traveled Europe with Montana State University Alumni Chorale in 2012.

Mitchell Harmon

Middle School Choral Director

Music Theatre Choreography Instructor

Mitchell Harmon is the Director of Choirs at Ben Steele Middle School in Billings, MT, where he leads a vibrant program of over 300 students across three grade-level choirs and an extracurricular ensemble. A proud Laurel native and graduate of Rocky Mountain College, Mitchell has spent the past eight years inspiring students through Choir and General Music education.

His leadership extends beyond the classroom—having guest adjudicated at the Central Montana Youth Sing, directed the Billings Boys’ Honor Choir, and advised both the Student Council and Drama Club at Ben Steele. An accomplished vocalist, he has performed with the Billings Symphony Chorale, NOVA Center for Performing Arts, and currently sings with the High Plains Chamber Singers.

Mitchell is known for his energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to helping young people discover the joy of performing. Outside of teaching, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family—especially his niece and nephew—along with hiking, volleyball, and adventuring with his partner Kody and their dogs. He looks forward to a lifetime of creating exceptional musical experiences with his students.

Elisa Olson

Movement in Music Instructor, Ukulele Instructor, Folk Dances Instructor

Katrina Davies

Choral Director, Orff Ensemble Instructor, Music Exploration Instructor

Katrina Davies is an educator, guest conductor, adjudicator, and teacher mentor based in Lewistown, Montana. A Montana native, she previously taught in Billings, where she developed a deep passion for mentoring new teachers. She now serves as a coordinator for the New Teacher Mentorship Program in Lewistown, continuing her commitment to supporting educators as they grow and thrive in the profession.

Katrina holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Rocky Mountain College, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Wyoming. Certified in Orff Schulwerk, she is dedicated to fostering creativity, collaboration, and strong musicianship through integrative and experiential music education.

She loves adjudicating choirs and guest conducting, and she served as the Heights Honor Choir Director for ten years, leading a 100-member extracurricular ensemble—one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. Davies is also the recipient of numerous grants supporting innovative music education initiatives, reflecting her commitment to expanding opportunities for students and teachers alike.

Outside of her professional life, Katrina treasures time with her family. She and her husband, Alex, are raising their three children—Ellamieke (8), Arja (7), and Abel (5).

Our Mission: Enriching lives through the joy of music!

Contact Us

yellowstonevalleyvoices@gmail.com

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