Faculty
Dr. Mark Jennings
Professor of Music & Director of Choral Activities
B.A., St. Olaf College; M.M., Michigan State University; Ph.D., Florida State University
Mark Jennings is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of music at Truman State University, a position he assumed in the fall of 2003. At Truman, he conducts Cantoria, Truman’s premiere choral ensemble, and the University Chorus, a large, non-auditioned choir that performs choral masterworks. Jennings has led Cantoria in international performances in Austria, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, and Latvia and has led the choir in three invited performances at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference. In addition to his conducting duties, Jennings leads the master’s program in choral conducting–overseeing the treble, auditioned chamber choir Voci, and teaching graduate courses in conducting and choral methods–and he also teaches applied voice. Jennings has held similar teaching positions at Western Kentucky University and Eastern Illinois University.
Jennings received the Ph. D. in Music Education/Choral Music from the Florida State University, studying with Andre Thomas and Rodney Eichenberger, his master’s degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University, and his bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College. Jennings also enjoys composing – his piece “O Crux” is published by Hinshaw Music.
Dr. Jill Phillips
Assistant Professor of Music, Voice
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jill Phillips to Truman this year!!!
Dr. Jill Phillips, mezzo-soprano, joined the voice faculty at Truman State University in the Fall of 2024 as Assistant Professor of Music. She teaches applied voice, directs the opera activities, and teaches diction and vocal pedagogy. Previously, she was adjunct instructor of voice at Luther College and at Viterbo University. Jill completed her masters and DMA in voice from the University of Cincinnati – CollegeConservatory of Music, and her BA in Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
While at CCM, Jill sang the roles of Marcellina in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, the Old Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Baba the Turk in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. In addition, she participated in the Opera Fusion: New Works project with CCM and Cincinnati Opera.
Jill has been an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera and made her mainstage debut at DMMO in 2013 as the Zweite Mägd in the company’s production of Elektra. She has sung with Kentucky Opera, NANOWorks Opera, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, and Dayton Opera. In addition, Jill has been a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera. Additionally, she has sung scenes from such operas as Anna Bolena, Cendrillon, La cenerentola, The Crucible,Dead Man Walking, Don Carlo, Giulio Cesare, L’italiana in Algeri, Peter Grimes, and Vanessa, and has covered the roles of Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Cenerentola in La cenerentola.
In addition to her opera credits, Jill is an active oratorio soloist. She has sung the alto solos in J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor at Cincinnati’s Christ Church Cathedral; performed as the alto soloist in the Peoria Bach Festival in 2017; and the alto soloist in the Verdi Requiem with Bradley University.
Mr. Hunter Eisenmenger
Adjunct Instructor of Music, Voice
Tenor Hunter Eisenmenger joined Truman State University as adjunct instructor of voice in January, 2023. He teaches applied voice and has taught courses in diction and opera theatre. Hunter completed his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Benedictine College and his Master of Music Performance degree in voice at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music & Dance.
Hunter debuted as Acis in Handel’s Acis and Galatea, in the UMKC Conservatory’s first production following the pandemic. Hunter was a finalist for Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition, and he also qualified for second prize in the North International Music Competition. Hunter was engaged at the Seagle Festival as an Emerging Artist in 2023, performing the role of the romantic Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. He also played the loathsome Padre Antonio in Crozier’s With Blood, With Ink.
Hunter has performed Ferrando in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, as well as Henrik in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. With a dexterous voice suited for musical theater as much as it is for opera, Hunter was also a featured solo performer in the Opera of the Ozarks popular cabaret shows.
Hunter’s loves to share his passion for opera and singing with his students.
Dr. Thomas Hueber
Professor Emeritus and Adjuct Instructor of Voice
Tenor Thomas Hueber recently retired from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music after a varied career as a performer, teacher and director. Prior to his appointment at Wheaton, Tom served as Professor of Voice, Coordinator of Vocal Studies, and Director of Music Graduate Studies at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where he was awarded the rank of Professor Emeritus. We are thrilled that Tom has rejoined the faculty at Truman State University as adjunct instructor of music to continue sharing his teaching expertise with our students!
Tom has performed major roles in such operas as Cosi fan tutte, The Magic Flute, The Impresario, The Merry Widow, La Rondine, Falstaff, Albert Herring, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Turn of the Screw, and he is an active soloist performing in major concert works such as Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and recently, Orff’s Carmina Burana at Symphony Center in Chicago.
Tom’s students have participated in district and regional NATS auditions where they have achieved success as finalists and winners. Many have pursued graduate studies at institutions such as the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute, the University of Michigan, the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, the University of Kansas, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Illinois. Former students have embarked upon successful professional singing careers, appearing with opera companies such as New York City Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, The Kansas City Lyric Opera, Opera Colorado, Madison Opera, Dayton Opera and Chautauqua Opera, while others have enjoyed careers performing with professional ensembles such as Chanticleer, The Kansas City Chorale, and The Dale Warland Singers.
In addition to serving as the Central Region Governor of NATS, Tom also currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Chapter of NATS where he served as Chapter Treasurer. Twice, he previously served as the Missouri District Governor for NATS. He is a graduate of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (BM in vocal performance, cum laude) and the University of Michigan School of Music (MM and DMA in vocal performance) and counts among his mentors Clayton Halvorsen, Donald Doig, Leslie Guinn, George Shirley, Martin Katz, Gustav Meier, and Jay Lesenger.
Dr. Jacqueline Collett
Professor Emerita of Music, Voice