Dr. Loñieta Aurora
Thompson Cornwall
Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Choral Studies
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Office: Duplex 101B
Phone: (919) 546 – 8412
lcornwal@shawu.edu
Loñieta Aurora Thompson
Cornwall
Education
Bachelor of Music 1966
Manhattan School of Music, New York
(Theory
and Composition)
Master
of Music 1966
Manhattan School of Music, New York
(Music
Education, Composition)
Sacred
Music Masters 1973
School
of Sacred Music at
Union
Theological Seminary, New York
Doctor
of Education 2006
Teachers
College
Columbia University, New York
Dissertation: The
African American Art Song:
A Continuum In the Art of Song
Present Memberships
- American Guild of Organists
- National
Association of Negro Musicians
- National
Association of African American Studies
- National
Association for the Study and
- Performance
of African American Music
- National
Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc.
Awards and
Recognitions
1999
Crystal Award
Women’s Commission and Ministries
South Atlantic Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists, Atlanta, GA
2002 Lamplighter Award for Music
Outreach
The Light 103.9 FM [WNNL]
2002
Inducted into Alpha Chi Honor
Society
2003 International Who’s Who
Historical Society
2005
- 2011 Who’s Who in America
2005
- 2011 Who’s Who in Education
Research Presentations,
Musical Compositions, Publications
2004– “Embracing the Obvious:
Direct
Utilization of
African American Musical Forms in Selected
Art Songs by
African American Composers”
Co authored with Dr. Marilyn Thompson for NAAAS.
2004 Entrance Nuptial, Organ
2004
– “Let us encourage one
another”
Musical
score for the Triennial Session of the Reformed
Church
in America, Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA
2005
– African American Art Song
Research
Presentation
with Dr. Marilyn Thompson [NANM]
2006
– African American Art Song Alliance
Conference, A
Time for Reflection, University of California,
University of California, Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts. - Accompanist for Dr. Marilyn Thompson.
2007 NANM
The Life and Times of Nora Holt
2008-2011 Various Lectures for the
Alexander/Pegues Ministers
Conference at Shaw Divinity
School [Shaw University] which
address the conference theme and
discuss the role and use of music
in the worship service.
Loñieta
Aurora
Thompson Cornwall, pianist, organist, choral director, liturgist,
arranger/composer, is a native of New York, and a versatile performer
and
educator. Currently she is Assistant Professor of Music at Shaw
University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she serves in a variety of
capacities as
Director of Choral Studies, teaching courses in Theory, Conducting, and
Piano.
Dr.
Cornwall
is the Director of Music at First Reformed Church of Cary, North
Carolina. Before relocating to North Carolina, she was the organist at
several
New York Churches, including Abyssinian Baptist Church, Ephesus
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Harlem, and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
in Hollis, Queens. She is presently Minister of Music and Liturgy for
Franklinton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Franklinton, North Carolina.
Dr.
Cornwall is a current member of the American Guild of Organists, Raleigh
Chamber Music Guild, National Association of Negro Musicians [NANM], National
Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music [NASPAAM],
and National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc.[NATS].
Dr.
Cornwall is a frequent lecturer, clinician and facilitator on Music in the Black Church and Useful Keyboard Skills
for
The
Protestant Worship Service. As Adjunct Professor of Worship and Liturgy
at Shaw Divinity School, Dr. Cornwall often addresses issues relating
to the order of Worship
and the role of music in it. She has composed and arranged several
compositions
for the solo voice, choir and
organ.
In 2004, she was invited to conduct the Women’s Chorus for the Triennial
Session of the Reformed Church in America that convened at Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove
California. On this occasion, her choral composition, “Let
us encourage one another” was given its premier performance.
She
often performs as piano accompanist for acclaimed soloists in concert throughout
the east coast and abroad.
She
collaborates with Dr. Marilyn Thompson in research presentations:
- Embracing
the Obvious: Direct Utilization of African American Musical Forms in Selected
Art Songs by African American Composers [National Association of African
American Studies, 2004]
- The
African American Art Song [ Lectures and performance of songs for Teacher’s
College, Columbia University, 2005, The National Association of Negro
Musicians, 2006].
In
February
of 2007, Dr. Cornwall accompanied Dr. Marilyn Thompson in concert at
Shaw University and at the African American Art Song Alliance
Conference, hosted by Dr. Darryl
Taylor, University of California, Irvine, Claire Trevor School of the
Arts.
This event made history because it was the first African American Art
Song
conference ever held to
Celebrate
the genre.
Dr.
Cornwall’s recognitions include the 1999 Crystal Award from
the South Atlantic Conference of Seventh-day Adventists-Women’s Commission and
Ministries, the 2002 Lamplighter
Award from Raleigh-Fuquay Varina Radio Station WNNL and various listings in
Who’s Who International, in America and in Education. She was inducted into
Alpha Chi, Honor Society in 2002 as an honored professor from the nominations
of her students.
Dr.
Cornwall has earned the Bachelor Music degree in Music Theory/Composition and
Master of Music degrees in Music Education and Education from Manhattan School
of Music, New York. She also earned the Sacred Music Master degree from Union
Theological Seminary, School of Sacred Music, New York. In 2006 she was awarded
the Doctor of Education
from
Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York. Her dissertation focused on
the development of the African American Art Song.
Course Load
Fa
ll
Semester: African American Music
Class Piano
Music Theory II
University Choir
Spring
Semester: Choral Conducting
Class Piano
Music
Theory III
University Choir
Jakob Estey Pipe Organ
Dr.
Cornwall stands in front of the Jakob Estey Pipe Organ,
built
sometime during the mid 1800’s and located in First Baptist Church, Brattleboro, Vermont. Dr. Cornwall played
an
organ recital at First Baptist in June of 2007 for the
Estey
Organ Museum Association, who has promised an
Estey
Reed Organ to be placed in Estey Hall on campus. Below Dr. Cornwall plays a 100
year old reed organ.
THE SHAW UNIVERSITY CHOIR
Dr. Loñieta Thompson Cornwall, Director
The
Shaw University Choir, formerly known as the Chorale Society, is one of the
public relations arms of Shaw University that performs for all major
convocations, special events and for some worship services in Thomas J. Boyd
Chapel.
The
Shaw
University Choir often performs in the Triangle in such venues as
Meymandi
Hall with the North Carolina Symphony, area houses of worship and
commerce.
Over the many years of its existence, the choir has sung throughout the
Eastern
seaboard, from Vermont to Florida, Chicago, California, Nassau, Bahamas,
Prague and Budapest. Their repertoire most often celebrates the rich
musical heritage of
the African American people.
The
Choir is made up of students who diligently work to provide excellence in
musical performance for their audiences. They are directed by Dr. Loñieta
Thompson Cornwall, Assistant Professor of Music.
The
Shaw University Choir is available for performance from
October through the last week in April. Contact
information: Dr. Cornwall lcornwal@shawu.edu
919 546-8412.
The Shaw University Choir Opens Holy Week at FRCC
The Shaw University Choir joined in partnership
with the
Chancel and Hand Bell Choirs of the First Reformed Church of Cary in
opening
Holy Week with a special performance at Palm Sunday Worship Service.
This
performance was extraordinary because the students had just experienced a
devastating tornado which caused extensive damage to the campus.
Classes were
suspended for the remaining portion of the semester because of those
damages.
Many of the students had left campus, others were sent to the shelter at
Raleigh Southeast High School. They came from as far as Rocky Mount,
Cary, Greenville; from the shelter with the clothes that they had worn
the day before; from their
off campus apartments, driving their own cars because there was no
available
transportation. They sang their little hearts out, rendering a
performance
filled with the pathos of loss, as well as the joy of gratitude – for
none had
perished, or seriously injured from the storm.
Church
members and visitors were moved to tears as the choir rendered “The Majesty and
Glory of Your Name” by Tom Fetkke. This is a lovely setting of Psalm 8 which
extols the glory of God in nature, and His loving care for mankind, created “a
little lower than the angels.” “Lonesome Valley”, an Appalachian Song, and the
Fetkke anthem were conducted by Jocelyn Jenkins, student conductor. The Service
ended with the rousing gospel song “More Abundantly” conducted by CaShawn
Parker, graduating senior.
The Choir committed to sing for Commencement at their
expense, even though they had been sent home. Just the week prior to the storm,
the choir had asked to sing “Way Over in Beulah Land” for Commencement. After
experiencing that life threatening tornado, they voted, by acclamation to sing
“For Every Mountain” by Curt Carr. This new choice describes the need to give
praise to God “for every mountain He brought [us] over, for every trial He’s
seen [us] through.”
The Shaw University Choir is made up of currently enrolled
students, former students, and alumni. Dr. Loñieta Thompson Cornwall is the
Director, Mr. George Hatcher, who sings second alto, is Chair of the Visual and
Performing Arts Department. Mr. Kevin Micheals, director of transportation,
serves as percussionist.
Shaw University Choir “Stars”
Corey Leak,
2010 graduate, tenor, Harlem Boy Choir alum, was featured as soloist with the North
Carolina Worker’s Martin Luther King Observance Choir. He has also been
featured in program with the North Carolina Symphony. Corey can be contacted at
919-522-3680
for performances.
Tyree
Smith, bass, was chosen
to sing
with the 105 Voices of History Choir that performs annually at JFK
Center in Washington DC. He continues to represent Shaw University as
one of the basses
selected to perform in the Bahamas in May 2011. Christina Waldo,
soprano, was
selected to join Tyree in the 2011-2012 VOI Choir. Tyree is from
Greenville and Christina is from Maryland.
Ryan Girley (Green shirt)
poses with Bear alumni Brandi Hancock (right) and Jewelyn Dunn (center), and
Minister James Forbes, Jr. (Left)at the General Baptist State Convention. Ryan
is from Virginia and sings second tenor
in the choir. Brandi and Jewelyn each sang solos during the concert. Dr.
Cornwall and Minister Forbes provided instrumental accompaniment. Minister Forbes and the choir from Christian Faith Baptist Church collaborated to provide music for Genworth Financial Group
during Black History Month. Neither choir knew that the other was scheduled to
perform, so both choirs sang together in what resulted in an extraordinary
performance. Minister Forbes sits at the keyboard.
Rev. Dr. David C. Forbes is the pastor of Christian Faith Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Brandi Q. Hancock is a 2003 graduate of Shaw University. She
has countless solo and theatre performances to her credit. She appeared as the
character Alice in the TNT Made for TV Movie Freedom Song starring Danny Glover
and Loretta Devine. H
er singing credits include The North Carolina Symphony I
Waited for the Lord, along with the Shaw and Morgan State University
Choirs. Guest Soloist in a recording with the Wake Forest Baptist Church
with Dr. Benjamin Harlan. She is the head of Premium Design Music
Group which offer
services in Vocal instruction, vocal health instruction workshops and
the band
PREMIUM DESIGN she is completing her Masters in Church music from
Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. Brandi can be reached for
performances via email brandiqhancock@gmail.com
or 919-638-7012