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Dean Wibe is one of eight Resident Composers selected to participate in the 2026 Mizzou International Composers Festival. MICF Resident Ensemble Alarm Will Sound will perform his composition something in-between at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, at Columbia’s Missouri Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public.
Wibe is a composer and cellist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He began playing in the public school classroom and first studied cello privately with Dianne Platte and Hannah Holman. He received his Bachelor of Music in cello performance at the University of Iowa. Currently, Dean is pursuing a Master of Music Composition at the University of Missouri, where he received the 2026 Sinquefield Prize for composition. Dean recently completed a Master of Music in cello performance at the University of Missouri, where he studied with Eli Lara and performed with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble. As a member of the ensemble, he worked with composers such as Marcos Balter, Viet Cuong, Mary Kouyoumdjian, Tania Léon, George Lewis, and others. Dean has composed works for HUB New Music, the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, the Mizzou Wind Ensemble, the American Wild Ensemble, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
We recently chatted with him via email
What is your musical background? When and how did you begin composing?
My musical studies began when I started playing cello at the age of 12 in my public school orchestra program. I went on to get a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in cello performance. While studying cello at Mizzou, I performed in the New Music Ensemble. This ensemble exposed me to a wide variety of different musical styles, and I worked closely with many student composers. In this rich environment, I felt inspired to create something of my own. I began composing while studying cello at Mizzou, with my first substantial work being written for the ensemble I played in. I am now pursuing another emphasis in composition here.
How did you hear about MICF?
This year will actually be the 4th MICF I have participated in; the last three years I have performed works by guest composers with the New Music Ensemble.
Tell us about your piece that will be performed at MICF. What should we listen for?
The piece I wrote for Alarm Will Sound is titled something in-between. In this piece, the electric bass takes on a solo role. The electric bass utilizes two strings that are tuned a quarter-tone lower than standard tuning. The resulting microtonal harmonics provide harmonic and pitch material for the entirety of the piece. The rest of the ensemble performs less precise microtones, creating a sonic landscape of fluctuating intonation.
What does it mean for you to work with an ensemble like Alarm Will Sound?
It is an honor to now have my own composition premiered at the festival by an incredibly dedicated group of musicians that I have admired over the last few years.
What do you hope to learn from your MICF experience?
This summer, I am looking forward to meeting other composers and discussing their work; MICF always delivers many thought-provoking performances. I am also very excited to collaborate with Alarm Will Sound on a personal level as they bring my work to life.
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