Published on
Internationally acclaimed composer Katherine Balch and American songwriter and composer David Longstreth will serve as Distinguished Guest Composers at the 18th annual Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF), which will take place July 25-31, 2027 in Columbia, Missouri.
Applications are now open for eight Resident Composers to write new works for GRAMMY Award-winning Resident Ensemble Alarm Will Sound.
The 18th annual MICF will feature concerts of music by contemporary composers performed in front of live audiences, along with in-person workshops, master classes, and other events. Saturday night’s grand finale will present the world premieres of new works from each of the Festival’s Resident Composers, performed by Resident Ensemble Alarm Will Sound and conducted by Artistic Director Alan Pierson. The festival will also include a special guest performance by Ensemble Dal Niente, a contemporary classical music ensemble based in Chicago, Illinois, that performs acoustic and electroacoustic chamber music.
Katherine’s works have been commissioned and performed by leading ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, and the symphony orchestras of Pittsburgh, Dallas, Minnesota, Oregon, Albany, Indianapolis, and Tokyo. She is currently Associate Professor of Composition at Yale School of Music.
David is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the indie rock band Dirty Projectors. Longstreth composed the score to the 2025 fantasy adventure film, The Legend of Ochi, and has collaborated with Solange, Bombino, Björk, and Joanna Newsom among others. He co-wrote the 2015 single, FourFiveSeconds by Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney.
MICF is tuition-free for Resident Composers and includes accommodations, individual meetings with Distinguished Guest Composers, rehearsals, and sectionals with Alarm Will Sound, the premiere of pieces by eight Resident Composers, access to all festival concerts and rehearsals, professional recording and mixing of the premiere performances, and round-trip transportation in town and to/from nearby airports when possible.
“We are honored to have Katherine and David bring their innovative composition talents to Columbia, Missouri and share them with our students and faculty,” said Stefan Freund, Artistic Director of MICF. “They will help MICF provide an unmatched opportunity for the Resident Composers to grow professionally.”
Admission to all 2027 MICF concerts will once again be free. For more information on the 2027 MICF and to apply to be a Resident Composer, visit https://newmusic.missouri.edu/micf.
To stay up to date with all Mizzou New Music Initiative announcements, follow them on Instagram and Facebook: @MizzouNewMusic