Innocent Okechukwu, The Rising UNN 1st Class Music Composer that Married His Gay Partner in the US
Nigerian born pianists and music composer, Innocent Ndubuisi Okechukwu is trending in various social media platforms after the photographs of his January 10, 2026 gay wedding at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Downers Grove, Illinois (USA).
Mr. Okechukwu happily tied the nuptial with his spouse simply identified as Greg.
The marriage event was witnessed by some friend and associates of the “couple.”
Mr. Okechukwu is a 2017 First Class graduate of Music from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). At the UNN, he majored in Composition with a minor in Piano. He was the best graduating student in his department in 2017.
As a rising classic music composer and teacher, he taught at the Solid Rock Music and Dance Zone, Dubai before moving to the United States of America where he was accepted for a Masters Degree in Music Composition at the Ivy League institution, the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Late Nigerian iconic writer, Prof. Chinua Achebe taught African and World Literatures at the Bard College throughout the later part of his life till he died in 2013.
Mr. Okechukwu is currently a Ph.D. Student of Composition at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Within the Classic music community, Innocenbt Okechukwu is regarded as a rising star with over two hundred (200) compositions to his credit, which have been programmed in various parts of the world- Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
Some of his works include:
The Sacred Cantata; Oku Ncheghari (A Call for Repentance), Three flute concertos, Waterfall (A Clarinet Balleto), A Dance of the Wizard (flute concerto), and a New York premiered duet Ije Uwa (The travails of life), When the world is sick (SATB, also arranged for solo voice), Ave Verum (SATB), Oji – kola nut (Solo Piano), Sinking sand (violin sonata), Hang-out (Trumpet & Piano), Behold the star (SATB for Christmas), Snow, snow (Solo voice), Fear (Soprano), The River Within (String Quartet, World premiered in Boston Center for the Arts, USA), Sneaky One (Brass Quartet) amongst many others.
He has also won some awards including:
Bronwyn and Jeffrey Lamont Artistic and Social Change Fellowship 2021-2022 session.
Certified Music Practitioner Scholar and Access for Equity Scholar, 2022-2023
The First Winner of the UCCMA 30th Anniversary Anthem Commission, – 2023, USA.
Special mention as one of the 12 finalists Composers at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Competition 2021.
In a 2024 interview with Bold Journey magazine, the composer said that his life decisions were mostly influenced by his experiences, especially as a “black man” who has face discrimination and and experienced several “NOs” along the way.
According to him, “I have been through so much in life, but where I come from, giving up is never an option. You just have to continue to climb even after falling for a thousand times.
You never show your pain to others, you must endure it all and keep enduring.
“Losing my Dad at 21, I have been able to navigate through the hurdles of getting my First degree in Music at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and then getting my first job in a Middle School, I witnessed how saturated the music teaching industry is. I struggled and toiled, even taught in a Music Institute in Dubai, UAE for two and half years, and faced greater health crises along with career crises. I was let down by people I trusted so deeply. I was hurting from betrayal and battling depression and anxiety. This led to me returning back to my country.
“In the midst of all the tribulations, I had my Mom, and my siblings and few friends who stood by me. This gave me great courage to keep trying my luck on life.
I applied to a Master’s degree in Music Composition at Longy School of Music of Bard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and I was accepted and offered scholarships which made it possible for me to pursue the degree.
It is not, however, clear when he realised he was gay or when he started engaging in gay relationships.
