Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and a familiar favorite
I can't help but smile when I see a group of young students performing my music. Someone posted this video of the Youth Orchestra of Los...
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Okoye’s evocative “Black Bottom,” premiered by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra... is one of the most engrossing musical portraits of Black history in the available repertoire."
The New York Times
MEET THE COMPOSER
Winner of The American Prize in vocal chamber music for, We Met at the Symphony, composer Nkeiru Okoye creates contemporary classical music for a new generation. Her work in addressing issues of race and social justice has been called “gripping” and “Evocative,” (The New York Times), and “unflinching” (Boston Globe). “Okoye’s writing joyfully [dances] from gospel music and spirituals to operatic solos, from cinematic orchestral interludes to minimalist riffs, and from electrifying ostinatos to lilting spoken word.” (I Care if You Listen). A Guggenheim Fellow, her music has been commissioned, performed and presented by Detroit Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, the Julliard School, Louisville Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Opera North UK, Houston Grand Opera, the American Opera Project, Moscow Symphony, Tanglewood Music Festival, Virginia Symphony, Tulsa Opera, Royal Opera House, UK, and many others. Born out of her year long residency with the Grammy Award winning Louisville Orchestra, Okoye’s recital series "Cocktails, Cookies and the Composer™," brings African American music, and short English language opera to communities. Dr. Okoye’s music is published exclusively through Theodore Presser.
״An emotionally charged and musically sublime experience…”
- The Plain Dealer
Orchestra Works
comic operas
community celebrations
African American stories
Orchestra works
Community Celebrations
African American Stories
Comic Operas
At the symphony
This season are premieres for Juilliard, BBC,
Celebrations
Okoye creates orchestral works, opera, art songs, chamber pieces, and 's orchestral works have been noted as
Community Engagement
Okoye creates orchestral works, opera, art songs, chamber pieces, and 's orchestral works have been noted as
Compositions
Historical
Community Engagement
Orchestra Works
Explore artwork that captures the subtle connections and meaningful gaps that define the human experience.
Compositions
Historical
Community Engagement
Compositions
״An emotionally charged and musically sublime experience…”
- The Plain Dealer
Notions and Notables
Video Picks
Some of my favorite videos, old and new are here. I write works for orchestra, opera, solo players, choir. Many pieces in my catalog are about African Americans in history. I also write romances and comedies. All these and more are are on my youtube channel and SoundCloud page
2024/2025 Season Highlights
6/21/24
Voices Shouting Out
Cumberland Orchestra, Sewanee Music Festival
Ismael Sandoval, Conductor
7/28/24
Voices Shouting Out
Youth Orchestras of Los Angeles, Citizens of the World program
Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor
9/26/24
Voices Shouting Out - for winds
Southeastern Wind Symphony Concert
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10/4/24
I am Moses, the Liberator from HARRIET TUBMAN
Royal Opera House, London - "Live at Lunch"
April Koyejo Audiger, soprano and Kamilla Arku, piano
10/26/24
Voices Shouting Out
Westmorland Symphony
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10/27/24
Breaking Bread
The Artist Series of Talahassee
Amadi Azikwe, Viola
11/4/24
Voices Shouting Out
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Mei-Ann Chen, Conductor
11/06/24
Voices Shouting Out
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Mei-Ann Chen, Conductor
1/18/25
Voices Shouting Out
Fresno Philharmonic
Tito Muñoz, Conductor
1/19/25
Voices Shouting Out
Fresno Philharmonic
Tito Muñoz, Conductor
2/22/25
Phillis Wheatley: A Musical Journey
Knox-Galesburg Symphony
Kendrick Armstrong, Conductor
3/9/25
Voices Shouting Out
Minnesota Philharmonic
Brian Dowdy, Conductor
3/15/25
Invitation to a Die-In
Washington National Chorus with National Symphony, "Stand the Storm"
Eugene Rogers, Conductor
3/22/25
And the People Celebrated - World Premiere
BBC Concert Orchestra
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3/29/25
Songs of Harriet Tubman
South Bend Symphony
Cynthia Katserelis, Conductor
4/26/25
Voices Shouting Out - for winds
Triangle Wind Ensemble
Evan Feldman, Conductor
4/27/25
Trombone Quartet - World Premiere
The Julliard School
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4/27/25
String Quartet - World Premiere
Musiqa
Mercury Ensemble
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