Works
Concert Works
Premiere of BLACK BOTTOM, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conductor, Thomas Wilkins
Large Ensemble Works
Evident Truths (2026)
Duration: 7.5'
Description: Concert work for rapper, vocal trio & wind ensemble
Commissioner: The United States Army Field Band
Instrumentation: Rapper, SSA vocal trio; picc.2fl.2ob.3cl.bcl.2bsn; ssax (dbl. bsax).2asax.tsax; 3tpt.4hn.2tbn.btrbn.2euph.2tub; amp. db; timp, 4-5 perc, drum set
And the People Celebrated (2025)
Duration: 8'
Description: Commemoration of the Obama Presidency for narrator & orchestra
Commissioner: BBC Concert Orchestra for BBC Radio 3
Instrumentation: Narr; picc.2.2.2+bcl.2-4.3.2.1; timp, 3 perc; hp; str
Passing by the River (2024)
Duration: 4'
Description: Orchestral Hymn
Commissioner: Louisville Orchestra Creator Corps
Instrumentation: picc.2.2.2.2-4.3.1.1; timp, 2 perc; str
When the Caged Bird Sings (2024)
Duration: 75'
Description: A Musical Ceremony
Commissioner: University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Instrumentation: Narr, S, Mz (jazz vocalist), T, BBar; jazz/gospel pianist; SATB chamber choir, SATB mass choir; picc.2.1+eh.2+bcl.2-4.3.1+btrbn.1; piano, timp, 3 perc; e. bass; str
Voices Shouting Out (Wind Ensemble Version 2023)
Duration: 5'
Description: Celebratory concert work
Commissioner: Consortium led by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Band
Instrumentation: picc.2fl.2ob.2cl.bcl.2bsn; 2asax.tsax.bsax; 3tpt.4hn.2tbn.euph.tub; timp, 3 perc; (opt. hp)
Briar Patch (2022)
Duration: 25'
Description: A Sung Story (can be staged or unstaged)
Commissioner: Virginia Festival for the Arts
Instrumentation: S, S, Mz, T, BBar; fl.cl.tbn.perc; str
Grayce & Sickle (2021)
Duration: 5'
Description: Wind Ensemble Work
Commissioner: South Shore Conservatory
Instrumentation: picc.2fl.ob.cl.bcl.asax.tsax.bsax.bsn; hn.2tpt.tbn.euph (or btrbn).tub; 2-3 perc
Black Bottom (2020)
Duration: 25'
Description: Orchestral Portrait in Nine Movements
Commissioner: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Instrumentation: S, A, T, BBar; picc.2.1+eh.2+bcl.2-4.3.1+btrbn.1; timp, 3 perc; e. bass; str
Charlotte Mecklenburg (2018)
Duration: 12'
Description: Symphonic Tone Poem
Commissioner: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Instrumentation: picc.2.2+eh.2+bcl.2-4.3.2.1; timp, 3 perc; hp; str. Chamber version available.
Invitation to a Die-In (2017)
Duration: 12'
Description: Monodrama for Baritone & Orchestra
Commissioner: Mount Holyoke College
Instrumentation: Bar; picc.2.1+eh.1+bcl.1-4.2.1.1; timp, 3 perc; str
Portrait of a Dreamer Suite (2013)
Duration: 8'
Description: Suite for String Orchestra
Commissioner: Upperman African American Center, UNC Wilmington
Instrumentation: str orch
Songs of Harriet Tubman (2011)
Duration:
25'
Description:
Song cycle for soprano based on arias from Okoye's Harriet Tubman opera
Instrumentation: 2 (2/picc).1 (eh).2 (2/bcl).1 - 4.2.1.1.1 - timp, 3 perc, pno - str
Phillis Wheatley: A Musical Journey (2005, rev. 2023)
Duration: 12'
Description: Narrated Orchestral Showcase
Commissioner: Boston Landmarks Orchestra
Instrumentation: Narr; fl.ob.cl.bsn-2hn.tpt.tbn; timp, 3 perc (incl. African perc); str
2005, rev. 2023
Voices Shouting Out (2002)
Duration: 5'
Description: Concert Work
Commissioner: Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Instrumentation: picc.2.2.2+bcl.2-4.3.1+btrbn.1; timp, 3 perc; hp; str
Chamber & Solo Works
Members of the Louisville Orchestra perform MOVEMENTS FOR STRING QUARTET at a Cocktails, Cookies and the Composer recital
African Sketches.
For solo piano. 2003-04 • Recording
Angels at Night
for Trombone quartet., also String quartet. 2025. • Live performance
Breaking Bread
For solo viola. 2022 • Recording
Drums Talking.
Solo piano. Commissioned by Blair MacMillan . 2016
Euba’s Dance.
Etude for unaccompanied Solo cello. Commissioned by Matt Haimovitz. 2021. Recording
King Fallen.
For string trio. 2013
Lusitano in Vicentino's Country
String Quartete. 2025. Video
Meanderings
No. 1: When Young Spring comes. Solo piano. Commissioned by pianist Lara Downes. 2021. Recording
Movements for String Quartet.
Premiered by Detroit Symphony Orchestra String Quartet. 2020. Recording
Choral Works
University of Michigan Choirs with EXIGENCE vocal ensemble performing WHEN THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
"The Beatitudes from WHEN THE CAGED BIRD SINGS (2024)
SATB CHOIR with optional soprano solo. Commissioned by the University of Michigan Orchestras. Coming Soon. Also for SATB choir and strings. 2024. Video
Clap Your Hands.
TTBB choir and strings. Commissioned by the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra. Also for SATB choir and strings. 2011
Inside is what remains.
SATB, with soprano solo. Arrangement Commissioned by Adrienne Danrich, Music as a Message. 2021. Video
Kyrie.
SATB choir and piano. 2004
Song cycles, Arias, & Songs
Tenor Issachah Savage sings "A Kiss on the Forehead" at Tulsa Opera's GREENWOOD OVERCOMES
1861
Unaccompanied song for tenor. Commissioned by American Opera Projects and The Walt Whitman Project. 2011 Video.
A kiss on the forehead.
Standalone song from Home of my Ancestors. Tenor and piano. Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. 2018 Video.
Brooklyn Cinderella.
Song cycle for voice and piano. Commissioned by American Opera Projects and The Walt Whitman Project. 2011. Digital version • Video.
Inside is what remains.
Standalone song from At the Grande (2025). Soprano, high soprano, or contralto. Commissioned by Tulsa Opera. 2021 • Recording
Love and Longing — Sung Monologues Inspired by Classic Literature. (2023) Commissioned by The Juilliard School. 3 songs, each for high and low voices and piano. Live Performance
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"Whatever Our Souls are Made Of" - inspired by Wuthering Heights
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"Mr. Rochester" inspired by Jane Eyre
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"Darcy Proposes" inspired by Pride and Prejudice.
Songs of Harriet Tubman.
Song cycle for soprano and piano or orchestra. 2011 • Video • Notes
Twenty-Eight Bathers.
Lyrics by Walt Whitman.
Commissioned by Lyric Fest. 2019 • Recording
We Met at the Symphony.
Song cycle for soprano and string quartet.
Commissioned by The Harlem Chamber Players. 2022 • Video • Notes