Colleen Jennings is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Theater at the University of Guam. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance at The University of Iowa. Colleen has taught at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, USA, Colleen recently appeared as a soloist with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) as soprano soloist in a nationally televised and internationally streamed broadcast for the New Year’s Countdown concert on Thai Public Television. With utmost pride and honor, she was humbled when asked to perform for HRH King Bhumibol Adulyadej  and members of the royal family at Siriraj Hospital in 2010 with TPO. She has also appeared with TPO in concerts commemorating HRH King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday in 2011 and 2009, in Mahler’s 4th Symphony and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony under the direction of Gudni A. Emilsson, and at the ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand under the direction of Major Prateep Suphanrojn.
Colleen has performed in Milan, Italy where she sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni under the direction of Georges Delnon, Director of Theater Basel (Switzerland). She has also appeared as First Lady in the University of Iowa’s workshop production of Die Zauberflöte and as Mimì in a University of Iowa production of La Bohème to commemorate the School of Music’s 100th anniversary. Other appearances include: Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre as Young Artist in their June 2007 production of L’elisir d’amore, January 2006 production of Madama Butterfly and June 2006 production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, where she also served as the understudy for the title role.
A two-time winner of the University of Iowa’s Concerto/Aria Competition, she appeared with the UIowa Chamber Orchestra in May 2006 singing arias from Dvořàk’s Rusalka and Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and in May 2007 singing arias from La bohème and Le nozze di Figaro. In April 2006, Colleen appeared with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra of Jackson, Michigan singing Italian arias and duets.
Colleen has appeared as soprano soloist in Westminster Fine Arts series productions of Britten’s War Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, PDQ Bach’s The Seasonings, Orff’s Carmina burana and the American premiere of John Tavener’s Fall and Resurrection, under the direction of Dr. Randal Buikema. Other oratorio appearances include soprano solos in Haydn’s Nelsonmesse and Rossini’s Petite messe solenelle.
Colleen appeared in Wolf-Ferrari’s Il segreto di Susanna as Susanna with the Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theatre at the University of Iowa in July 2005. She was a semi-finalist in the Classical Singer Competition in New York City in May 2005. In October 2004, Colleen received the Colette Divine Silver “Tour de Force” Award at the Vera Scammon SOS International Vocal Competition. She made her European debut with La Musica Lirica performing Puccini’s Suor Angelica regionally in Les Marches and Tuscany. Colleen was a Claudette Sorel Award Winner in the Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition in the summer of 2003. She was a finalist in the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee soloist competition. Colleen also received the Crystal Award from the Vera Scammon SOS Competition in Denver, Colorado.
Colleen has received scholarships and grants from the Cantorum Foundation of Omaha, Nebraska, USA, the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation and the Recording Artists Music Performance Trust Funds. Colleen has appeared with the Utah Festival Opera in productions of Naughty Marietta, South Pacific and Susannah.
Colleen received a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Drake University and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of St. Catherine.