SHAWN E. Okpebholo, CoMPOSER

I write music that asks us to listen more deeply—to history, to one another, and to the stories that make us human.

What are people Saying

“I’m even harder pressed to think of anyone, anywhere, who composes with Okpebholo’s finesse across so many genres."

— Chicago Tribune

  • “FRESH AND NEW AND FEARLESS…”

    — The Washington Post

  • “...a beautiful artist. ...who has enormous grace in his music, and fantasy and color.”

    — Augusta Read Thomas

  • “LYRICAL, COMPLEX, SINGULAr”

    — The Guardian

Featured PERFORMANCES

The Grossman Ensemble with conductor Luke Poeppel premieres City of Big Shoulders by Shawn E. Okpebholo on May 22, 2026 at the University of Chicago's Logan Center for the Arts in Chicago, IL.

The Lexington Philharmonic + Will Liverman with conductor Mélisse Brunet premieres Two Black Churches by Shawn E. Okpebholo on May 18, 2024 at the Singletary Center of the Arts in Lexington, KY.

The Santa Fe Desert Chorale with conductor Joshua Habermann premieres The American Road by Shawn E. Okpebholo on July 24, 2025, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The final note is never the end of the story.