norman studied at the interlochen center for the arts in northern michigan in the opera performance program. at the age of 16, she entered the marian anderson vocal competition in philadelphia which, although she did not win, led to an offer of a full scholarship at howard university, in washington, d.c. while at howard, she sang in the university chorus and as a soloist at the lincoln temple united church of christ, while studying voice with carolyn grant. in 1964, she became a member of gamma sigma sigma.