Dr. Lońieta Aurora Thompson Cornwall
Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Choral Studies
Adjunct Professor Worship and Liturgy
Shaw Divinity School
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Office: Duplex 101B
Phone: (919) 546 – 8412
E-Mail: lcornwal@shawu.edu
Course LoadEducation
Bachelor of Music 1966: Manhattan School of Music, New York (Theory and Composition)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]
Inducted into Alpha Chi Honor Society
2003
International Who’s Who Historical Society
2005
Who’s Who in America
2005, 2006, 2007
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
2005
“Let us encourage one another” Musical score for the Triennial Session of the Reformed Church in America, Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA
2006
African American Art Song Research
Presentation with Dr. Marilyn Thompson [NANM]
2007
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.
Lońieta 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. 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.
Dr. Cornwall is the proud mother of Arminta Morant and Ronald, three “daughters of the heart”, Ivy, Ilean and Earlene, and one grandson, Martin
Dr. Lońieta Cornwall with Dr. Colleen Wiessner, First Reformed Church of Cary, who is the wife of the pastor,
Rev. Dr. Chuck Wiessner, and also a graduate of Teachers College.
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.
Dr. Cornwall playing a reed organ in the Estey Organ Museum with Curator and organ restorer, Ned Phoenix.
Dr. Cornwall playing a reed organ in the Estey Organ Museum.
Dr. Cornwall, Ned Phoenix, Ms. June Costa - Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and Estey Hall Museum pose amid the reed organs.
THE SHAW UNIVERSITY CHOIR
Dr. Lońieta Thompson Cornwall, Director
The Shaw University Choir is one of the public relations arms of Shaw University that performs for all major convocations, special events and some Chapel Services.
The Shaw University Choir also performs for the Triangle Community and for Shaw Day events hosted by supporting churches and organizations. Over the many years of its existence, the choir has sung throughout the Eastern seaboard, from Vermont to Florida, Chicago, California and even Nassau, Bahamas. Tours to Prague and Budapest in 2008 and China in 2009 are planned to celebrate the rich musical heritage of the African American people. The Shaw Jazz Band, Charlie Brown, Director and Mixed Water, professional jazz ensemble, will also perform as part of this tour abroad.
The Choir is made up of students who diligently work to provide excellence in musical performance for their audiences. They are directed by Dr. Lońieta Thompson Cornwall, Assistant Professor of Music.
Choir Tidbits
The Shaw University Choir had the pleasure of performing at First Baptist Church in Brattleboro, Vermont last March. First Baptist Church was the congregation where Jacob Estey, reed organ builder, held membership in mid 1800’s. His family “were philanthropists of the first order.” (Estey Hall, R. Parks). Their generous gifts made possible the erection of Estey Seminary, now known as Estey Hall.
March 28, 2005 marked the first time anyone from Shaw University visited the church of this great benefactor.
In addition to the warm reception that was given to the choir through the efforts of Rev. David Garrett, the university was also gifted with an Estey Reed Organ which will be placed in the auditorium of Estey Hall.