Critically acclaimed, award-winning composer Shawn E. Okpebholo is working with the NIU School of Music for the world premiere of his new composition, “Gale and Zephyr” at a joint concert featuring the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, Tuesday, November 28 at 7 p.m. in the School of Music’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.
Okpebholo will be on campus, Thursday, October 26 to participate in an all-school convocation at 11 a.m., and he will attend the Wind Ensemble’s rehearsal that day at 2 p.m.
A Grammy-nominated artist, Okpebholo’s music has been featured on PBS Newshour and radio broadcasts across the country, including NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, SiriusXM’s Living American series, and Chicago’s WFMT-FM.
NPR selected his song “The Rain” as one of the 100 Best Songs of 2021, one of just a handful of classical songs to make that ranking.
His compositions have appeared on six commercially released albums, including “Steal Away” his first album solely devoted to reimagine Negro spirituals, and his second solo Grammy-nominated album, “Lord How Come Me Here?”
Okpebholo holds the position of Jonathan Blanchard Professor of Music Composition at Wheaton College-Conservatory of Music, and serves as the Saykaly Garbulinska Composer-in-Residence of the Lexington Philharmonic.
He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in composition from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.
