Mizzou New Music Ensemble

Dec. 28, 2022

End of Fall ’22 semester highlighted by artist residency, SLSO collaboration, Mizzou New Music Ensemble concert

The latter part of the fall 2022 semester has been a busy one for the University of Missouri School of Music and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. Here is a summary of what has been going on. Abstract sound artist Maria Chavez had a five-day residency at Mizzou (Nov. 7-11). The Peruvian turntablist spent time with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, talking about listening practices and the various influences that inform her work. Chavez demonstrated her turntable skills for students using records that were generously donated by Columbia’s Hitt Street Records. Chavez shared her…

Oct. 5, 2022

Composer José Halac’s Oct. 5-9, 2023 residency concludes with Mizzou New Music Ensemble concert

José Halac, an award-winning Argentinian composer and researcher of contemporary music, will be in residence from Wednesday, October 5 through Sunday, October 9, 2022 at the University of Missouri School of Music. Halac’s residency is funded by the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. José Halac                                                  Photo credit: Susana Perez During his residency, Halac will work with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble on his new piece,…

May 30, 2022

Mizzou New Music Ensemble and composition graduates reflect on positive MNMI experiences

Seven members of the Mizzou New Music Ensemble (NME) and five composition majors received degrees or completed their coursework at the Mizzou School of Music in May 2022. 2021-22 Mizzou New Music Ensemble members, with Director Yoshiaki Onishi (third from front) and Dr. Stefan Freund, Artistic Director of MNMI (fifth from front) NME members receiving Master of Music degrees included: Daniel Fitzpatrick, pianist – composition; Stephen Landy – percussion; Andy Lewis – cello; Jordan Nielsen – percussion; Eve Werger – piano; and Andrew Wiele – clarinet. Johanny Veiga Barbosa, violinist, completed her coursework for a…

April 21, 2022

Mizzou New Music Ensemble featured at Dean Minderman Memorial Concert May 3, 2022 at Sheldon Concert Hall

The Mizzou New Music Initiative will honor longtime St. Louis music journalist and musician Dean Minderman at a memorial concert on Sunday, May 3rd at 8 p.m. at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. The concert will feature the Mizzou New Music Ensemble performing three Sound of Art commissions written by Mizzou composition students in honor of Minderman, as well as two additional works, one by a current Mizzou student and another by a Mizzou alum. Support for the concert is provided by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Tickets are $20 general admission and…

April 15, 2022

Mizzou New Music Ensemble’s April 24th performance to feature five world premieres

The Mizzou New Music Ensemble will continue its 2021-2022 concert series with a performance at 7:30 pm on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at the Sinquefield Music Center’s Sheryl Crow Hall on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia.. The concert is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend in person, the concert will be livestreamed on the MU School of Music YouTube channel. Members of the 2021-22 Mizzou New Music Ensemble, with Yoshiaki Onishi (third from front) and Stefan Freund (fifth from front) The Ensemble (pictured) will open the program with a performance of Conversación a…

Feb. 14, 2022

Composer Fred Onovwerosuoke residency at Mizzou scheduled Feb. 24 – 27, 2022

Composer Fred Onovwerosuoke (pronounced OH-NWEH-sehke) will be in residency at the University of Missouri from Thursday, February 24 through Sunday, February 27, 2022. The St. Louis-based, African-born composer’s visit will begin with a convocation presentation –“Cultural Programming Re-Imagined” –from  3 to 4 pm on February 24 at Whitmore Recital Hall. This is a free event. Fred Onovwerosuoke On Friday, February 25 at 3pm, Onovwerosuoke will lead a composition seminar for composition students. Two free concerts will take place over the weekend featuring his compositions. Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 pm at the Missouri Theater the Columbia Civic…

Jan. 21, 2022

Mizzou New Music Ensemble continues The Sound of Art Series in collaboration with Amon Carter Museum of American Art with January 25th video performances

The Mizzou New Music Initiative’s The Sound of Art series continues on Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 at 7:30 pm CST with three performances by the Mizzou New Music Ensemble on the Mizzou New Music Facebook page and the University of Missouri School of Music YouTube channel. The Sound of Art series began in 2010 with the concept of documenting collaborative efforts between composers and visual artists, featuring original compositions inspired by the art and performed by the NME. Members of the 2021-22 Mizzou New Music Ensemble with Artistic Director Yoshiaki Onishi (third from right) and Stefan Freund,…

Jan. 19, 2022

Black Pierrot album featuring the Mizzou New Music Ensemble earns high praise in American Record Guide

Black Pierrot, a 2021 album recorded by Mizzou’s University Singers that features the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, received accolades in a review in the January/February issue of the American Record Guide. Released on the Centaur Records label in June 2021, the album is highlighted by the world premiere recording of the title track, which was commissioned from composer William Averitt by R. Paul Crabb, director of choral activities at Mizzou, with funding from the Mizzou New Music Initiative. Averitt’s “Black Pierrot” is based on seven poems by Langston Hughes, each incorporated…