[Nkeiru Okoye]
AfriClassical has written about Dr. Nkeiru Okoye (b. 1975), http://www.NkeiruOkoye.com, a number of times over the years. On Feb. 29, 2008 we wrote that Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, Compiled and Edited by William H. Chapman Nyaho, included her Dancing Barefoot in the Rain, which is from African Sketches. On Aug. 31, 2009 AfriClassical posted: “Nkeiru Okoye, African American Composer, Was a Featured 'FESAAM 2009' Presenter.” A post on Jan. 5, 2010 read: “Tania León A Co-leader of 'Composers Now' Panel; Works of George Walker & Nkeiru Okoye Heard.”
The Center for Black Music Research CBMR Digest for Fall 2010, Vol. 23, No. 2 includes a feature article, A Tribute to Hale Smith (1925-2009) by Regina Harris Baiocchi. The article says: “Smith taught at Xavier University, C.W. Post College, and the University of Connecticut, Storrs. His proteges include Dr. Malcolm Breda, Dr. Nkeiru Okoye, Wynton Marsalis, and this writer.”
Nkeiru Okoye's website says of her present activities: “Currently, she is a Resident Artist in American Lyric Theater's Composer Librettist Development Program in NY, while completing her folk opera, Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line To Freedom.” We have noted recently that composer Anthony Davis will host an event at the American Lyric Theater on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 1:00 p.m. The ALT website reports: “American Lyric Theater Resident Artist Composers to be featured include Christopher Cerrone, Justine Chen, Gerald Cohen, and Nkeiru Okoye; alongside Librettists Tony Asaro, Rochelle Bright, and David Simpatico.”
