President of the Board

Alex G. Craig

Mr. Craig serves as President of the Board of Directors for Muddy River Opera Company. A Quincy area native and dedicated advocate for the performing arts, Alex brings a background in business leadership and organizational development to the board, ensuring that Muddy River Opera operates with the same standard of excellence it brings to the stage. As Board President, Alex is committed to expanding the company’s reach across the tri-state area, strengthening community partnerships, and securing the resources that allow Muddy River Opera to fulfill its mission — preserving the art of opera, developing new audiences, and providing a platform for the next generation of performers.

Treasurer of the Board

H.K. Giltner

Ms. Giltner serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Muddy River Opera Company. An experienced educator and administrator, H.K. brings to the board a deep commitment to ethical leadership, analytical thinking, and organizational excellence. With a career built on fostering achievement and developing talent across a wide range of educational settings, she understands the importance of strong institutional foundations — and the transformative impact that arts organizations like Muddy River Opera can have on a community. H.K. is ABD toward a PhD in Leadership, and holds credentials in career coaching and aptitude assessment.

Secretary of the Board

Steven Soebbing

Dr. Soebbing serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Muddy River Opera Company. A Quincy native, Dr. Soebbing brings to the board a rare combination of administrative leadership and professional performance experience. He currently serves as Dean of Arts, Sciences, and Academic Support at John Wood Community College, where he oversees the programs and faculty that serve as the educational backbone of the region.

As a Bass-Baritone, Dr. Soebbing has performed leading roles with Muddy River Opera and opera companies throughout the Midwest, including Germont in La Traviata and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore. He holds a Doctorate (DMA) and Master of Musical Arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and English from the University of Notre Dame.

Member of the Board

Rachel Hansen

Rachel Hansen serves as a General Director on the Board of Directors for Muddy River Opera Company. An attorney and educator, Rachel brings a unique combination of legal expertise and academic experience to her role. She currently serves as a Professor of Criminal Justice at Culver-Stockton College, and has taught business and criminal law at the collegiate level across multiple institutions throughout her career.

A graduate of the University of Louisville School of Law, Rachel is deeply committed to her community, volunteering in the Quincy Public Schools and serving as a past President of the Quincy Public Schools Foundation. Her dedication to education, ethics, and civic engagement makes her an invaluable voice on the Muddy River Opera board.

Member of the Board

Haidee Heaton

Dr. Heaton serves as a General Director on the Board of Directors for Muddy River Opera Company. A theatre artist and scholar with over two decades of experience in higher education, Dr. Heaton brings deep expertise in performance, directing, and design to her work with Muddy River Opera — where she has also served as a director for the company’s productions.

Dr. Heaton is a member of the faculty at Culver-Stockton College, where she teaches courses in performance, directing, voice and diction, costuming, and stage makeup, and serves as Director of the Honors Program and Associate Chair of the Fine, Applied and Literary Arts Division. She holds a B.F.A. in Performance from Wichita State University, an M.A. in Theatre from Oklahoma State University, and a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Muddy River Opera is guided by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors whose leadership helps shape the artistic vision, financial stewardship, and community impact of the organization. Our board meets regularly and contributes their time, expertise, and passion to support excellence in opera production and outreach.