Jan. 28, 2020

Bret Bohman named 2019 MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year

The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) has named Bret Bohman as the 2019 MTNA Distinguished Composer of Year. Bohman (pictured) teaches courses in electronic music composition and music theory at the University of Missouri. He is a co-founder of the new music group Khemia Ensemble, and also records original electronic music under the name Bels Lontano. Bohman previously taught at the University of Michigan, where he received his doctorate. The MTNA award is given to the composer of the most significant work from among all compositions commissioned during the year by the organization’s state affiliates,…

Sep. 10, 2019

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to read works by Mizzou composers
Hans Bridger Heruth, Ethan Forte, and Daniel Vega

From left: Heruth, Forte, Vega Three University of Missouri student composers will have their works played by musicians with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra this year as part of a joint educational venture between the orchestra and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. Student composers Hans Bridger Heruth, Ethan Forte, and Daniel Vega (pictured) were selected by SLSO Resident Conductor Gemma New to write new works for a 40-piece chamber orchestra drawn from the musicians of the St. Louis Symphony. The three works will be read, played, and critiqued in a private session on Tuesday, October 1 in St. Louis.

May 20, 2019

Mizzou New Music Initiative 2018-19 year in review

March 20, 2019

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presenting public reading of new works
by Mizzou composers on Wednesday, April 3 at Powell Hall

From left: Colagiovanni, Roberts, Christensen Three University of Missouri student composers will have their works played by musicians with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in a public reading session at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Powell Hall in St. Louis. The public is invited to attend, with no admission charge or RSVP required. As part of a joint educational venture between the orchestra and the Mizzou New Music Initiative, student composers Mikkel Christensen, Ben Colagiovanni, and Libby Roberts were selected last year by SLSO Resident Conductor Gemma New to write new works for a 40-piece chamber orchestra drawn…

Feb. 25, 2019

Mizzou New Music Initiative gets $2.5 million gift
from Sinquefield Charitable Foundation

In a news conference on Thursday, February 21, University of Missouri officials announced that the Mizzou New Music Initiative will receive a gift of $2.5 million from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation to help continue the program over the next three years. The funds will help support all of MNMI’s activities, including the costs of faculty and staff, graduate student assistantships, and two full-tuition scholarships per year for undergraduate composition majors; presenting the Mizzou International Composers Festival; bringing guest composers and performers to campus; funding the Sinquefield Composition Prize; and more.  The University will match the $300,000 portion designated for…

Feb. 5, 2019

St. Louis Symphony musicians to premiere new work by Stephanie Berg

Musicians from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will premiere a new work by Mizzou alumnae Stephanie Berg in a concert next month at Powell Hall in St. Louis. Berg’s “Three Prayers” was commissioned by SLSO clarinetist Diana Haskell, and will be performed for the first time as part of of a program of chamber music titled “Equal Play: Celebrating Women Composers” at 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 1 at Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand in St. Louis’ Grand Center district. Berg (pictured) will introduce her work during the concert, which also will include music by Jennifer Higdon…

Dec. 28, 2018

Mizzou composers Libby Roberts, Niko Schroeder featured in Columbia Daily Tribune

From left: Roberts, Schroeder Mizzou composers Libby Roberts and Niko Schroeder both were featured recently in stories published by the Columbia Daily Tribune. Roberts, a second-year masters student in composition who also serves as the pianist for the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, was the subject of a story by features editor Aarik Danielsen under the headline “Whole notes: MU student unites mind, body and soul in musical pursuits.” She is one of three Mizzou composers taking part in this year’s program of readings by musicians of the St. Louis Symphony and resident conductor Gemma New, and will…

Dec. 18, 2018

Producer for Mizzou faculty members earns Grammy nomination

One of the nominees this year in the Grammy Awards’ “Classical Producer of the Year” category has a Mizzou connection. Veteran producer Judith Sherman, a 12-time Grammy Award nominee and winner of the award for Classical Producer of the Year for 1993, 2007 and 2011, is nominated again for her work in 2018, including the Albany Records release New Music for Violin and Piano by violinist Julie Rosenfeld and pianist Peter Miyamoto. Miyamoto is a professor of piano and Rosenfeld an assistant professor of violin at Mizzou, and one of the eight new works included…