Composer Shawn E. Okpebholo is a versatile figure who writes music in many genres, including chamber music, orchestral music, songs, and film music. Choral music is prominent in his output, and many of his compositions are based on African-American spirituals in some way. An album of such works, Steal Away, appeared in 2015. Okpebholo's piano trio City Beautiful was included on the 2022 release Trios from Contemporary Chicago. Okpebholo teaches composition and theory at the Wheaton College Conservatory in Illinois.