“I write music that remembers. That resists. That resonates.
I write what dances, sings, and stirs the spirit."
About
Nkeiru Okoye is a musical force and narrative architect whose compositions don’t just speak: they testify. A Guggenheim-winning powerhouse blending classical rigor with the spirit of jazz, gospel, funk, and the African diaspora, her music is as gripping as it is unflinching. Whether she’s shaking concert halls with Voices Shouting Out, crafting spoken-word symphonic works, or spotlighting overlooked voices from history, Okoye commands attention — and holds it. Her music has been commissioned and performed by the BBC, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Juilliard, Houston Grand Opera, and Opera North UK. She is recorded on NAXOS, MSR, Albany, and Pentatone, and published by Theodore Presser.
With three major premieres and an orchestral residency, in the 2025-2026 season, Okoye continues to expand the boundaries of contemporary classical storytelling. At the heart of the season is her residency with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, which features the landmark oratorio A Time for Jubilee. Set against the backdrop of the historic Selma to Montgomery Trail, the work unites soprano Laquita Mitchell, a mass choir of local college choruses, and conductor Jamie Reeves in a powerful musical reflection on unity, protest, and hope. Following its Montgomery premiere in February 2026, A Time for Jubilee will tour to orchestras across Alabama. As part of the residency, the Montgomery Symphony will also present We Met at the Symphony: An Evening with Nkeiru Okoye, a concert of her comic vocal and chamber works.
Events
3/21/2026
WORLD PREMIERE - PIano Suite
Julliard Faculty Recital
Orli Shahan, Piano