The Biography of Elmore Lawson

Elmore Lawson

I was raised on Batang, a small island in the Philippines, where the individual and the community were never separate — we relied on each other, and that reliance made us whole. When I moved to the U.S. as a young man, I landed in a world built on individuality, where competition was the goal and cooperation was not the priority. It was like being on a different planet. I felt lost and confused.

Then I stumbled upon a drum circle in Chicago, and I was immediately transformed. From that day on, I have known why I am here.

Twenty years ago I brought that discovery to Madison, founding a community drum circle built on a simple premise: there is no goal, no destination — only the process, only arriving continually into the present moment. In the circle, there is no space for differences — belief, class, politics, gender, race, none of it matters. 

What's left is play, like children playing together — improvisation, silliness, playfulness, coming to being not just in oneself but as a whole.

For me, drumming is but a tool. It's not about drumming — it's about spirituality, a way of life, being, not becoming. Drummers and dancers become one unit. The names and images in the mind cease to exist. There is only being, and in being, everything is fulfilled and complete.

I believe drum circles are the most effective medicine — they heal the mind, and the mind heals the body. They welcome the uniqueness of each person to flourish while eliminating competition, comparison, and judgement.

Our circle is free and open to all. We come together to improvise, to release, and to take the energy that creates balance in our lives.

Mahal Kita!

Elmore Lawson
Djembe Drum Instructor · Drum Circle Facilitator · Music Therapy Specialist

Community Drum Circles

• Community Drum Circles, various indoor/outdoor spaces, Madison, WI — 2006–Current
  Organize weekly free, all-ages community drum circles
• Wisconsin Public Libraries, WI Area — 2008–Current
  Facilitate drum circles and sound explorations for family programs and special events
• MSCR, Madison, WI — 2015–Current
  Lead drum circles during school days and family night events; teach in after-school enrichment programs; facilitate interactive music sessions (K–5th grade)

School Programs

• Woodland Montessori School, Madison, WI — 2010–2015
  Led enrichment music programs across grades; whole-school drum circles for special events
• Greenway Crossing Montessori School, Madison, WI — 2013–2015
  Group drumming in all-age classrooms
• Emerson Elementary School, Madison, WI — 2016–2017
  Music residency; sound exploration workshops
• Marquette Elementary School, Madison, WI — 2017–2018
  Music residency; sound exploration workshops
• Shabazz High School, Madison, WI — 2018–2025
  Residency at Coming of Age drumming program; drum circles for whole-school events

Early Childhood & Family Programs

• Madison Children's Museum, Madison, WI — 2010–2025
  Facilitated children/family drum circles and sound exploration for residencies and special events
• Lowell Elementary School, Madison, WI — 2010–Current
  Private group drumming lessons (children and adults), focus on West African music
• Pre-school of the Arts, Madison, WI — 2013–2025
  Whole-school sound exploration circles for in-school and out-of-school events
• VSA, Madison, WI — 2014–2016
  Preschool sound therapy; playful expression percussion circles
• Gingerbread House Preschools, Sun Prairie / DeForest / McFarland, WI — 2014–Current
  Lead playful sound exploration percussion circles

Special Events & Ceremonies

• Main Street Yoga Center and The Studio, Madison, WI — 2010–Current
  Drumming performance for yoga teacher training ceremonies
• Town of Rome, Nekoosa, WI — 2015–2019
  Led Native American Water Walk Ceremony community drum circles
• PBS Kids Get Up and Go, Breese Stevens Field and other locations, Madison, WI — 2017–2019
  Conducted annual televised community drum circles
• First Congregational Church, Madison, WI — 2017–2020
  MLK Day annual community drum circle with all-ages youth; final performance demonstration
• Merrill Spring Park, Madison, WI — 2017–Current
  Leads annual summer solstice celebration for the Friends of Merrill Spring
• Cub Scouts of America, Madison, WI Area — 2018–Current
  Leads drum circle for Bridging ceremony
• WYSO, Madison, WI — 2024
  Residency and performance with high school music students

Youth & Community Center Programs

• Bayview Foundation Community Center, Madison, WI — 2015–2016
  Residency youth percussion workshops
• Lussier Community Center, Madison, WI — 2015–2023
  Taught summer camp youth drumming lessons

Health & Wellness Programs

• Temple Beth-El, Madison, WI — 2018
  Led teacher training on classroom management through drumming
• Bayview Foundation Community Center, Madison, WI — 2023, 2024
  Facilitated interactive drumming programs for the elderly population

Other Experience

• Creative Support Alternatives, San Diego, CA — Community Support Facilitator, July 2003–April 2004
  One-on-one support for clients with developmental disabilities; client-centered program planning
• St. Benedict's Elementary School, Chicago, IL — After School Program Coordinator, August 1999–June 2000
  Supervised children in after-school program; provided tutoring and planned activities

Education

• Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI — Liberal Arts Transfer / Music Education, Jan–Dec 2007
• Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL — Music Education, Sept 1999–June 2001

Volunteer Experience

• Green Briar Park, Chicago Park District, Chicago, IL — Assisted in facilitating weekly drum circles
• Zen Buddhist Temple, Chicago, IL — Assisted with fundraising and food donation activities
• Inspiration Café, Chicago, IL — Cooked and served food for the homeless population
• Oakton College Preschool, Chicago, IL — Supervised children during daytime program

Languages: English, Tagalog, Kapampangan

Interests: Filipino, Brazilian, African, Tibetan, Cuban, and Native American culture and music; singing, cooking, gardening, dancing

References: available upon request