Walter M. Owens, Jr.

Chicago native, Walter M. Owens, Jr. travels extensively as an educator, coach, and champion of the arts at workshops and festivals. He earned the BME from Northwestern University (IL), the MM in conducting from Butler University (IN), and he is pursuing a doctorate in worship studies. He is the recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Sacred Music from Hope Bible College in Chicago.

Minister Owens is the Minister of Music & Arts and Dean of the Black Sacred Music Academy at Salem Baptist Church of Chicago where the Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates is Senior pastor. He also serves on the adjunct faculty of Moody Bible Institute, and has professional affiliations with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has served on the editorial committee for the African American Heritage Hymnal (GIA Publications), and as a faculty member for the Black Sacred Music Symposium at Illinois for many years.

Minister Owens is married to Rev. Dr. Terri Hord Owens, the first African American woman to lead a Protestant denomination (Christian Church, Disciples of Christ) in the USA and Canada. They are the parents of his Grammy award-winning namesake, Mitchell Owens who is the composer-in-residence for the award-winning, Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir with Josephine Lee, conductor).