Sep. 15, 2026
University of Missouri Board of Curators names Mizzou New Music Initiative Artistic Director Stefan Freund a Curators’ Distinguished Professor
Mizzou New Music Initiative Artistic Director Stefan Freund has been named a Curators’ Distinguished Professor, the highest and most prestigious rank bestowed by the Board of Curators. He is one of six University of Missouri faculty members to receive the honor. Freund is a composer and cellist who has helped establish Mizzou’s School of Music as a destination for contemporary music. Through programs including the Mizzou International Composers Festival, Creating Original Music Project, and Missouri Composers Project,…
Sep. 9, 2026
The Mizzou New Music Initiative has released its fall 2026-spring 2027 schedule of events
The Mizzou New Music Initiative has released its fall 2026-spring 2027 schedule of events taking place in Columbia and St. Louis. All concerts are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Fall 2026 Craig Colorusso “Sun Boxes” Installation5 p.m., Tuesday, September 22: Performance with the Mizzou Creative Improvisation Collective, featuring a new piece composed for this project by MU composer Dominick DeStefano, Pickard Plaza (more information can be found here) Mizzou New Music Ensemble Concert7:30 p.m., Sunday, October…
March 12, 2026
38 Musical Compositions Written by K-12 Student Composers Win Statewide Competition Sponsored by Mizzou New Music Initiative
The Mizzou New Music Initiative is pleased to announce that 38 new musical compositions and songs written by students in grades K-12 from across Missouri have won top honors in the 2026 Creating Original Music Project (COMP). COMP showcases original music from Missouri student composers and songwriters and offers them positive recognition, prizes, public performances and educational opportunities. Now in its 21st year, COMP is an annual statewide competition sponsored by the Mizzou New Music Initiative and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. For the competition, students in grades K-12 submit compositions in the following categories: Instrumental Music, Songs with Words,…
May 4, 2025
Mizzou New Music Initiative to expand thanks to $4.6 million gift
A $4.6 million gift from Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield, Rex Sinquefield, and the Sinquefield CharitableFoundation will ensure University of Missouri students continue to redefine the sounds oftomorrow through the Mizzou New Music Initiative. The funding will expand opportunities for students and faculty, supercharging a program alreadyknown for fostering bold, original compositions and turning visionary ideas into reality. “My goal is to make Missouri a mecca for musical composition,” said Jeanne Sinquefield, amember of the UM Board of Curators and founder of the Mizzou New Music…
April 7, 2025
Song composed for Creating Original Music Project creates a win for student as well as a small Missouri community
For evidence of how the Mizzou New Music Initiative’s Creating Original Music Project can impact not just an aspiring songwriter/composer, but also a teacher, a school, and even a community, look no further than Galena, Missouri’s Brendan Rieth and his song “Pretty,” which earned second place in COMP’s High School Acoustic category. Galena – population 455 as of the 2020 census – “is like, your picture-perfect definition of a rural small town,” says Drew Tate, the Music Director at Galena High School, the student body of which numbers around 200. “It’s very…
Sep. 9, 2024
Five Fall Concerts in Columbia to Showcase Mizzou New Music Initiative Performers and Composers; Applications for Programs Announced
The Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) will present five concerts this fall in Columbia to showcase the program’s newest musical groups and composers. MNMI is also seeking applications from original music composers locally and nationwide toparticipate in three of its programs. MNMI 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…
April 7, 2024
Mizzou New Music Initiative announces winners in the 2024 Creating Original Music Project Competition
The winning composers in the 2024 Creating Original Music Project (COMP) have been announced by the Mizzou New Music Initiative. Now in its 19th year, COMP is an annual statewide competition sponsored by the University of Missouri School of Music and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. COMP showcases new, original music from Missouri student composers and songwriters in grades K-12, offering positive recognition, prizes, performances, educational opportunities, and more. For the competition, students in grades K-5 submit compositions in two categories: Instrumental Music and Songs with Words. For grades 6-8, the categories are Notated Music, Popular Genres, Acoustic, and…
Oct. 16, 2023
The Mizzou New Music Initiative announces its fall semester schedule of Columbia, MO, events and other important dates
Today, the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) announced its fall semester schedule of events occurring in Columbia, MO, as well as other important dates. 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…