Nkeiru Okoye is a Guggenheim Fellow and American Prize–winning composer, librettist, conductor, and cultural thought leader whose music redefines the boundaries of contemporary classical music through its fusion of narrative, improvisation, and cultural resonance. Her works are celebrated for their dramatic power, expressive clarity, and richly narrative voice. She has been praised by The New York Times for Black Bottom, calling it “one of the most engrossing musical portraits of Black history in the available repertoire,” by The Washington Post for her “attuned dramatic sensitivity,” and by I Care If You Listen for writing that “joyfully danced from gospel and spirituals to operatic solos, cinematic orchestral interludes, minimalist riffs, and spoken word.”

Her music has graced major stages worldwide, from Carnegie Hall to the Royal Opera House, and has been commissioned and performed by leading institutions including the BBC Concert Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, Juilliard, and Opera North UK. She has served as Creator-in-Residence with the Louisville Orchestra’s pioneering Creator Corps and is currently the William Levi Dawson Composer-in-Residence with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.

In 2025, Okoye was one of 25 composers worldwide commissioned for BBC Radio 3’s landmark initiative 25 for 25: Sounds of the Century, which celebrated the first 25 years of the 21st century through new works reflecting pivotal global events. Her contribution, And The People Celebrated, commemorated the election of Barack Obama and was premiered and broadcast internationally.

Signature works include Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom—a cornerstone of modern American opera that inspired the standalone cycle Songs of Harriet Tubman; When the Caged Bird Sings, an expansive oratorio honoring Black resilience and spirituality; Voices Shouting Out, her 9/11-themed orchestral work that has become a staple of the repertoire; and We Met at the Symphony, winner of The American Prize in Vocal Chamber Music. Her piano miniature “Dusk” (from African Sketches) appears on Kaleidoscope, winner of the 2025 Latin Grammy for Best Classical Album. Her music will also be featured in the upcoming PBS documentary W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel with a Cause.

Her forthcoming debut CD on NAXOS will be the first devoted entirely to her music. Additional recordings appear on Albany Records, MSR Classics, Naxos, and Pentatone. Upcoming commissions include a new piano suite for Orli Shaham through Juilliard’s Kayden Music Commissioning Program; Dance ’Til You Drop for David Greilsammer; the children’s opera Dear Olly for Opera North UK; A Time for Jubilee for the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra; and a new work for the U.S. Army Field Band commissioned for America 250.

A passionate advocate for community engagement and representation in classical music, Okoye created Cocktails, Cookies & the Composer™ to introduce first-time concertgoers to classical music in welcoming, intimate settings—a model adopted nationally. Most recently, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra launched The Dr. Nkeiru Okoye Project, a multi-faceted initiative designed to bring her music to new audiences and communities. Through her teaching and mentorship, Okoye’s works shape conservatory curricula and inspire the next generation of artists, affirming her influence as both a creator and educator.

Nkeiru Okoye’s work amplifies overlooked stories, expands the sound of American classical music, and affirms her place among today’s leading composers.