Reflections on 'A Time for Jubilee’: Montgomery Premiere and Statewide Performances

My new oratorio, A Time for Jubilee has had a truly meaningful start to its journey. On February 10, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra premiered the work in an evening shaped by community voices, civic spirit, and beautiful music‑making. Shortly afterward, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra brought Jubilee to its audience, and the piece will continue traveling when the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra performs it on April 27, 2026, as their season finale.

I composed A Time for Jubilee to honor the Selma to Montgomery March, during my tenure as the inaugural William Levi Dawson Composer-in-Residence. Creating this work meant collaborating with extraordinary artists—most notably the internationally acclaimed soprano Laquita Mitchell—along with the combined choirs of Alabama State University, Huntingdon College, and Tuskegee University. Their dedication gave the piece its heartbeat.

The surrounding community also played an important role: Montgomery City Councilman Andrew Szymanski shared reflections about the performance, and the local NBC affiliate captured both pre‑concert conversations and the event itself. I’m also grateful that the National Endowment for the Arts featured the project on their blog, recognizing support from a Celebrating America250: Arts Projects grant.

Jubilee is a work about uplift, remembrance, and shared history. I look forward to seeing how it continues inspiring dialogue—whether in season programming, community collaborations, or or events that invite reflection and hope. My sincere thanks to every musician, conductor, and partner who helped bring this piece to life.

Watch & Learn More:• Short Excerpt: https://www.nkeiruokoye.com/?wix-vod-video-id=284950c84dfa419eb0dcc67036974780&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-mgpmfce8• Full Livestream: https://youtu.be/S27lTAsTQoY

Looking ahead to sharing more—including the March 27 release of my album When the Caged Bird Sings.