BIOGRAPHY
DENNIS WILLHOIT is a versatile lyric tenor and voice teacher. He has sung with the symphony orchestras of St. Louis, Des Moines, Rockford, Janesville-Beloit, Central Wisconsin, Appleton Fox Valley, Southeast Iowa, Truman State, Central Iowa and the University of Iowa. At home on the operatic stage, Dr. Willhoit’s opera credits include Die Fledermaus, Cosi fan tutte, Carmen, Cenerentola, Falstaff and Aida, where he most recently performed the role of Messenger in a concert production of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He has served as the principal tenor for the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, appearing twice as soloist at Carnegie Hall with the group. He is the co-founder of the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival held in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Dr. Willhoit has taught at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Drake University and Coe College. In 2010, he was awarded UWSP’s Excellence in Teaching Award. He holds degrees from Simpson College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of Iowa, where he earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in vocal performance and pedagogy. His scholarly research has focused on the operatic works of Vivaldi. |