Nigerian American musician Shawn Okpebholo of Wheaton College will be the guest composer for this year’s New Music Festival.
FEBRUARY 14, 2025 — The UTSA School of Music will celebrate composers and their newest creative works at the university’s annual New Music (NuMu) Festival, scheduled from March 18–20.
Nigerian American musician Shawn Okpebholo of Wheaton College will be this year’s guest composer. His works will take center stage alongside pieces by UTSA’s talented student composers.
Okpebholo’s music resonates globally, earning widespread acclaim from critics and audiences. His Grammy-nominated solo album, “Lord, How Come Me Here?,” reimagines Negro spirituals and American folk hymns. He has garnered numerous accolades, including awards from the Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Prize in Composition, the Music Publishers Association and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Additionally, he was the inaugural honoree of the Leslie Adams-Robert Owens Composition Award.
The New Music Festival will kick off with a performance by the UTSA Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday, March 18.
The UTSA School of Music cultivates innovation, artistry and scholarship while amplifying the cultural wealth of San Antonio and enriching the community through music and performing arts. Its new music festival aims to nurture developing artists.
NuMu kicks off on Tuesday, March 18, with the UTSA Symphony Orchestra performing a work by Aidan Ramos, winner of the student orchestral composition competition, as well as collaborations with UTSA choirs at 7:30 p.m. The performance will be held in the Arts Building Recital Hall on the UTSA Main Campus.
On Wednesday, March 19, a chamber music concert will feature music by Okpebholo and Daniel Rios, winner of the student chamber music composition contest. The performance will be held in the UTSA Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Ethan WickmanThe festival concludes on Thursday, March 20, with the UTSA Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band performing works by Okpebholo and by student competition winners Jaden Hernandez and Jared Worman at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall.
“Since 2014, NuMu has been a favorite event bringing together faculty and students from across disciplines to celebrate the music of our time,” said Ethan Wickman, UTSA professor of music. “Having Dr. Okpebholo as our guest composer exemplifies the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse, dynamic voices in contemporary music. This year’s event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of contemporary music.”
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