Dr. Wilbert O. Watkins

Choral Conductor, Oak Park, Illinois

Dr. Wilbert O. Watkins earned his PhD in music education and conducting from Florida State University, where he studied with renowned conductors Rodney Eichenberger and André Thomas. His academic foundation includes degrees from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, complemented by studies at North Texas University.

Throughout his career, Dr. Watkins has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor across the South and Midwest, Puerto Rico, and the Orient. His vocal performance experience spans prestigious ensembles, including the Oak Park Handel Week Chorus, Fort Worth Renaissance Consort, Schola Cantorum of Texas, and Fort Worth and Dallas Opera choruses.

His distinguished career highlights include serving as chorus master for Giovanni Bertolani’s opera “Matilde,” performing in a master class with Paul Plishka, and working under conductors Fiora Contino and the late Robert Shaw—for whom he also served as diction coach during Shaw’s final performance of Brahms’ “Ein deutsches Requiem.”

Dr. Watkins has held teaching positions at Benedictine University, Northern Illinois University, DePaul University, and Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he originated a multicultural choral series as Director of Choral Activities. He was also a past director of Unison with the Windy City Performing Arts in Chicago and served 20 seasons as the founding Artistic Director for the breast cancer-focused “Sing to Live Community Chorus,” which has since been renamed “Voices of Hope.” His professional affiliations 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.

Currently, Dr. Watkins serves as the Artistic Director for “Lux Cantorum Chicago” (since 2007), a staff member at “Pilgrim Congregational Church” in Oak Park (since 2022), and an Indiana adjudicator for vocal and choral events. Wilbert is a lifelong community volunteer for various social service initiatives; his mission is always to bring people together through the transformative power of music.