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
Since 2003, Mark Jennings has served Director of Choral Activities at Truman State University. 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 auditioned Voci Chamber Choir, and teaching graduate courses in conducting and choral methods. Jennings also teaches applied voice, and he 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 André 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, with many other compositions and editions having been performed.
Dr. Jill Phillips
Assistant Professor of Music, Voice
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. Sam Witmer
Lecturer in Music, Voice
Sam has taught voice at Indiana University, Marietta College, Ohio University, and Hocking College. He received his Master of Music from The Eastman School of Music, his Bachelor of Music from Ohio University, and recently completed his doctoral coursework at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Emeriti Faculty
Dr. Jacqueline Collett
Professor Emerita of Music, Voice
In memoriam
Jacqueline Collett (1958-2025) – Dr. C. to her students – was a devoted educator, accomplished vocalist, and supportive colleague. Jackie joined the Truman State University faculty in 1992, serving as Professor of Music until her retirement in May 2024.
At Truman, Dr. Collett taught applied voice, class voice, music education courses, Hollywood to Broadway, directed numerous operas and operettas, and led the no-longer-active show choir Franklin Street Singers. She was beloved by students and colleagues for her dedication, kindness, and joy in teaching. Though she had no children of her own, she treated generations of students as her family, along with her beloved dogs and cats.
Rest in peace, Dr. C
Dr. Thomas Hueber
Professor Emeritus of Voice
Tenor Thomas Hueber completed a distinguished teaching career, having retired from both Truman State University and his alma mater, Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.
As a singer, Dr. Hueber 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 was active in NATS, serving as the Central Region Governor of NATS. In retirement, Tom loves spending time with his family.