The Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) has announced its schedule of events being held in St. Louis, MO, during the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters.  

The Mizzou New Music Initiative is a diverse array of programs that position the University of Missouri School of Music as a leading center for the composition and performance of new music. The initiative is supported by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, led by Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. Their vision is to create an incubator for the composition and performance of new music and to showcase Missouri as a center for the music of tomorrow.

Five of the events take place at the Sheldon Concert Hall as part of the debut season of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s “Live at the Sheldon” series of chamber music concerts. Each of the concerts is curated and performed by SLSO musicians and will feature a new work by a student from the University of Missouri School of Music. The Sheldon is located at 3648 Washington Boulevard.

Here is the concert schedule:

Oct. 25, 2023 7:30 p.m. Atticus Schlegel’s woodwind quintet, “Forgotten Fantasy,” is part of the concert “Valerie Coleman and Louis Spohr: Winds with Strings,” curated by SLSO Principal Clarinet Scott Andrews and Principal Bassoon Andrew Cuneo. Schlegel is a junior from St. Louis, MO.

Dec. 6, 2023 7:30 p.m. Harry González’s Sheldon Commission Premiere is part of the concert “Schubert, Jessie Montgomery, Christian Quiñones: Strings,” curated by SLSO violinist Angie Smart and cellist Bjorn Ranheim. González is a second-year master’s student from Medellin, Colombia.

Feb. 7, 2024 7:30 p.m. Royne Sieh’s Sheldon Commission Premiere is part of the concert “Ravel and Dvorák: Strings with Piano,” curated by SLSO Concertmaster David Halen and Principal Second Violin Alison Harney. Sieh is a senior from O’Fallon, MO.

March 6, 2024 7:30 p.m. Morima’s Sheldon Commission Premiere is part of the concert “Stravinsky, Martinů, and Shannon Wood: Percussion Spotlight,” curated by SLSO Principal timpanist Shannon Wood. Morima is a senior from St. Louis, MO.

April 7, 2024 3 p.m. JT Wolfe’s Sheldon Commission Premiere is part of the concert “Beethoven and Hindemith: Horns with Strings,” curated by SLSO Principal Horn Roger Kaza and horn player Julie Thayer. Wolfe is a junior from St. Joseph, MO.

Another collaboration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the University of Missouri School of Music’s annual composer’s workshop. During the fall semester, three students will be selected to have an early draft of a composition read and critiqued by the SLSO. Those works are then completed by the composers and performed by the SLSO in the spring. The composer’s workshop is a collaboration between the SLSO, the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.

The schedule is as follows:

Oct. 25, 2023 Reading of MU Student Works by SLSO (closed to the public.)

April 30, 2024 7:30 p.m. Premiere of MU Student Works by SLSO. The performance will take place at Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle. Admission is free and open to the public.

To stay up to date with all MNMI announcements, follow them on Instagram and Facebook: @MizzouNewMusic