King Institute Lecture Series – Shawn Okpebholo

January 27: Shawn Okpebholo

Described as “a beautiful artist … who has enormous grace in his music, and fantasy and color,” composer Shawn Okpebholo writes in a variety of genres ranging from full orchestra to solo voice—sometimes influenced by the African-American spiritual and music from his ethnomusicological field work in both East and West Africa. Among numerous prizes for his compositions is second place in the American Prize in Composition. His music has been performed in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the United States, including such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and The National Cathedral. He has received commissions, including from the International Tuba and Euphonium Association and the United States Air Force. He serves as Associate Professor of Music Composition and Theory at Wheaton College (IL).