Dr. Dennis Willhoit

Dennis Willhoit serves as the Executive Artistic Director for American Gothic Performing Arts. He is a active tenor soloist, having served as a principal tenor in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. He was a featured soloist the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2014 and 2015. 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. Dr. Willhoit was the founding conductor of the Greater Ottumwa Vocal Arts Project Children’s Chorus, which he conducted for 10 seasons. In addition to his duties with AGPA, Dr. Willhoit manages his family’s heritage farm, runs two small businesses with his husband and serves as an advocate for historic preservation.