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Shawn Okpebholo

January 27, 2020

Since its inauguration in 2008, the King Institute for Faith and Culture has sought to foster conversation about things that matter, joining town and gown as we bring guests who work at the intersections of Christian faith and culture: artists and ministers, scholars and writers, politicians and prophets.

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 serves as Associate Professor of Music Composition and Theory at Wheaton College (IL).

Time and Location

9:15 a.m. – King Memorial Chapel
Reclaiming My Identity through the Negro Spiritual

7:00 p.m. – Central Presbyterian Church
Reclaiming the Theology of the Negro Spiritual