Jon Truitt has established a national presence as a stage director and operatic baritone in the United States, having directed over 30 professional productions alongside more than 30 in academia. Recent professional directing efforts include il barbiere di Siviglia in 2021, La Fanciulla del West in 2020, Norma and L’Elisir d’amore in 2019, Die Zauberflöte and Beatrice et Benedict in 2018, and La Traviata and The Elixir of Love in 2017 at theatres across the U.S. A previous professional production of Die Zauberflöte was featured in Opera America magazine and his award-winning script translation of the opera has been remounted multiple times around the country, one of which featured the debut of internationally acclaimed bass Samuel Ramey as Sarastro.). Jon Truitt has also appeared as a leading baritone with professional opera companies across the United States, including the New Orleans Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, Mobile Opera, Pensacola Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Opera Illinois, the Crested Butte Music Festival, Jacksonville Opera, Soo Opera Theatre, and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society in more than forty roles from the baritone repertoire. On the concert stage, he has sung with many regional symphonies like the Evansville Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Acadiana Symphony, and Muncie Symphony in such works as Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Britten’s War Requiem, Puccini’s Missa di Gloria, Vaughn Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and in many public solo recitals. Several of his concert performances have been broadcast on Public Radio and Television. He was a two-time apprentice artist with the Des Moines Metro Opera, a Metropolitan Opera Regional finalist, and a NATSAA Indiana State Winner. Dr. Truitt is also the Associate Director for Academic Affairs in the School of Music at Ball State University in addition to being Opera Director and Associate Professor of Voice.