Conductor, Lincoln Park/DePaul, Englewood & In-School Program; Director of Africana Studies
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Lonnie Norwood, Jr. grew up with an unquenchable passion for music and community service. He knew early on that both would be integral parts of his life's work. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Luther College where he studied under the late world-renowned conductor, Weston Noble. He went on to earn a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in Voice from Florida State University. Upon completion, Lonnie taught K-12 music in schools in Leon County (Tallahassee) and the Chicago area, including both public and private schools. He has enjoyed career highlights working as a versatile singer and arranger alongside such artists as Lizz Wright, Nona Hendryx, Nadine McKinnor, Lemmie Battles, Audrey DuBois Harris, Felicia Coleman-Evans, Sunn m’Cheaux, 79rs Gang, Ricky Dillard, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and a host of Chicago local artists.
Lonnie joined the artistic staff at Uniting Voices Chicago, formerly Chicago Children’s Choir, as a conductor in 2012 and opened its vivacious Englewood Neighborhood Choir (2013). His ensemble has performed for live television and radio broadcasts, at numerous city venues including the Chicago Symphony Center and The McCormick Convention Center, and has completed four national choir tours, including Puerto Rico learning and performing Bomba y Plena with the famous Ayala Family of Loíza. Additionally, Lonnie serves as Director of Africana Studies and conductor of the Lincoln Park/DePaul Neighborhood Choir at Uniting Voices.
Lonnie is a sought-after expert in traditional African American sacred music, educating educators and ensembles on its historical significance, vocal techniques, and the Black liberation aspects within the extensive musical repertoire. Norwood holds workshops frequently with high schools, colleges and universities, and community choirs. He has lectured for various ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) branches and universities, including Harvard University, Temple University, and Indiana University. Lonnie collaborates frequently as a clinician and singer with the international organization Village Harmony, including two tours to South Africa. He co-conducts the Chicago World Music Chorus with Mollie Stone and Patty Cuyler and was elected president of the Village Harmony Board for 2024-25. Other educational outreach efforts include exchanges in Nassau, The Bahamas with members of the Bahamas National Youth Choir and Bahamian musicians, Victory Vocals of Accra, Ghana, various choral directors and vocalists in Trinidad and Tobago, Nigerian diasporan musicians, and SongRoots (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). He has also authored articles along these lines of interest, including co-authoring a piece for the American Choral Directors Association’s Choral Journal (October 2018).
Lonnie's 1st EP entitled ROOTED, a collection of songs tracing the spiritual, musical, and emotional journey of Trans-Atlantic African ancestry, was released in August 2021. He was honored by the Chicago Reader as the Best Music Teacher in Chicago for 2022. In 2024, Lonnie joined the Holtschneider School of Music at DePaul University as the Concert Choir conductor. Learn more about Lonnie and his music at lonnienorwood.com.
