Wilbert O. Watkins

 

Artistic Director Wilbert O. Watkins begins his inaugural season with the Lutheran Choir of Chicago and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Dr. Watkins is the founding artistic director for a not-for-profit organization known as Sing to Live Community Chorus, which provides a musical outlet for women and men touched either directly or indirectly by breast cancer. His past Midwestern conducting experience has included the following: director of the mixed chorus Unison with the Windy City Performing Arts in Chicago, visiting assistant professor of music education at Northern Illinois University, adjunct faculty at De Paul University, Director of Choral Activities at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he was the originator of a multicultural choral series; and director of the Dubuque Area Men's Chorus. Having taught as both a choral music educator and an applied voice teacher in Texas, Florida, Iowa and Illinois, Dr. Watkins currently teaches voice privately, serves Pilgrim Congregational Church in Oak Park and has been involved in several volunteer community efforts.

 

Watkins studied with Rodney Eichenberger and AndrŽ Thomas at Florida State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in music education and conducting. His formal education has included theological seminary, and he has ministered to the congregations of several Christian denominations for over twenty years. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor in the South and Midwest, in Puerto Rico and in the Orient. Watkins has also sung with the Oak Park Handel's Week ensemble, the Fort Worth Renaissance Consort, Schola Cantorum of Texas and the Ft. Worth and Dallas Opera choruses. His other accolades include: serving as chorus master for Giovanni BertolaniÕs opera Matilde, performing in master class with Paul Plishka, and performing under the baton of Fiora Contino and the late Robert Shaw, with whom he also served as diction coach for his last performance of BrahmÕs Ein deutsches Requiem. He has guest lectured in music literacy, vocal diction and music education and his professional memberships include the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, International Federation of Choral Music, Music Educators National Conference and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.