Note from the Composer

Shawn E. Okpebholo Composer

Justice is a foundational component of my art, one that often centers around the pervasive pain within the Black community and our history. As a composer, I understand the importance of using my craft to convey challenging truths, yet there are moments when I find myself needing to create works that are more lighthearted and show other aspects of humanity. My opera, The Cook-Off, is a response to this desire: a comedic and fun work that also explores important themes like love, history, and identity. Drawing from my penchant for diverse cuisine and my fond memories of growing up in Kentucky, librettist Mark Campbell beautifully crafted a compelling and witty story that uses food and aspects of Southern culture to explore those larger themes.

The setting of The Cook-Off is an episode of “America Loves Food,” a televised cooking competition in which three contestants vie for a monetary prize by creating their best version of an iconic American dish. My music was informed by Mark’s humorous and affecting narrative—one that tells a story of the complex relationships between food, culture, each contestant’s past, and their reasons for needing to win. The contestants are Ivy Sweet, from Jacksonville, Florida, a food blogger who brings a modern spin to traditional Southern cuisine, while Kendra Smith, owner and chef of Aunt Bebe’s soul food restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama, emphasizes the importance of preserving culinary traditions. Álvaro Mendez, owner and chef of Sabroso Food Truck in Atlanta, Georgia, combines his Mexican heritage with soul food influences to create a fusion of cultures and dishes. Who will win?