MUSE • Musicians United for Social Equity

Biography

Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Nehemiah Luckett has been performing, composing and conducting for over 25 years. He has been a featured soloist at the National Cathedral, Carnegie Hall and has performed all over the US, Europe and Australia. He has composed solo, choral and instrumental pieces. His Secular Mass (a five movement work for chorus, string quartet, oboe and three trumpets) was premiered in 2004. In 2015 he was commissioned by Greenpeace UK to compose Requiem for Arctic Ice: The Northernmost Part. In January 2017 his Kyrie 2017 was premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. 

Nehemiah has collaborated on two full length musicals: Hamlet: Prince of Funk (1999) based on the Shakespearean classic with collaborators Owen Beverly (Evans) and Matthew Smith and Brick by Brick (2006), based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe with collaborator, Ross Wade. Most recently he has composed and arranged music for jazz singer (with Joshua William Gelb at Abrons Arts Center), Adia and Clora Snatch Joy (written by Mfoniso Udofia, New Dramatists Playtime 2019), A Burning Church (with Zhailon Levingston and Alex Hare, New Ohio Theater), Tomorrow Will Be…(with Orion Johnstone and Zhailon Levingston, Boom Arts – Portland, Oregon) and Triple Threats (with Tracey Conyer Lee). 

Nehemiah has deep gratitude for his family that pushed him to dream crazy dreams and Power APAC (Academic and Performing Arts Complex) where he studied music and theater.  He currently lives in the Bronx with his husband.

Recent projects include:

Dear Ex written by Be Steadwell, directed by Miranda Haymon, music directed by Nehemiah Luckett as a part of the 2024 NAMT Festival.

Metamorphoses written by Mary Zimmerman, directed by Barrie Gelles, original music by Nehemiah Luckett, produced by Gallery Players.

SPUNK written by Zora Neale Hurston, directed by Tamilla Woodard, music arranged by Nehemiah Luckett with new compositions by Nehemiah Luckett, music directed John Bronston, produced by Yale Repertory Theater

High Substitute for the Head Lecturer, music and lyrics by Stew, concert at Harlem Stage (vocals, keyboards, vocal arrangements: Nehemiah Luckett)

AMANI written by a.k. payne, directed by Josiah Davis, produced by National Black Theater at Rattlestick (Music Director: Nehemiah Luckett)

Scene Partners by John J. Caswell, Jr., directed by Rachel Chavkin, produced by Vineyard Theater (Music Director: Nehemiah Luckett)

RUBY, book and lyrics by Nate Jacobs and Michael Jacobs, music by Nate Jacobs, Brennan Stylez and Antonio Wimberly with additional music by Nehemiah Luckett (Music Supervisor, Co-Composer, Co-Orchestrator: Nehemiah Luckett) at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

AUTUMN is a soul-pop collaboration from Autumn Brown and Nehemiah Luckett. Their music sits at the nexus of musical virtuosity, ritual, and play. Teaming up with Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards and hip-hop artist Sterling Duns, they have created EPs that feels unique in sound and universal in the expression of experiences of grief, joy, and healing.