July 11, 2017

Composers Festival spotlight: Carolina Heredia

Born in Córdoba, Argentina, Carolina Heredia is the first resident composer originally from South America to take part in the Mizzou International Composers Festival. Heredia (pictured) has just completed her doctorate in musical arts at the University of Michigan, studying with Michael Daugherty, Evan Chambers, Kristin Kuster, and Erik Santos. (Interestingly, while being the first…

July 10, 2017

Composers Festival spotlight: Henry Breneman Stewart

The University of Missouri's representative among the eight resident composers for this year's Mizzou International Composers Festival is Henry Breneman Stewart, who just completed a master's degree in composition at Mizzou. While at Mizzou, Stewart (pictured) has composed works for the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, Columbia Civic Orchestra, University Singers and more, and served as…

June 15, 2017

Mizzou New Music Initiative awards postdoctoral fellowship to Carolina Heredia

The Mizzou New Music Initiative and the University of Missouri School of Music have awarded a postdoctoral fellowship to composer Carolina Heredia. Starting with the Fall 2017 semester and continuing for two years, Heredia (pictured) will teach private composition lessons to Mizzou students; assist with various MNMI programs; and work on interdisciplinary collaborative projects, initiating…

March 23, 2017

Creating Original Music Project to present award-winning works from Missouri student composers in concert on Saturday, April 15

Whether heard on a concert stage or in a theater, on film or TV, or in a video game or app, every piece of music starts with a composer – and every young composer needs a start. That’s why Mizzou’s Creating Original…

March 15, 2017

William Averitt’s “Black Pierrot” inspired by poet Langston Hughes

For his latest commissioned work "Black Pierrot," composer William Averitt once again has drawn inspiration from the poetry of Langston Hughes. Scheduled for a world premiere on Saturday,…

March 8, 2017

University Singers, Mizzou New Music Ensemble to premiere new work by William Averitt in concert on Saturday, March 18

The University of Missouri’s University Singers and Mizzou New Music Ensemble will present the world premiere of “Black Pierrot,” a newly commissioned work from composer William Averitt, in a concert at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at the First Baptist Church, 1112 East Broadway in Columbia. General admission to the concert is $5 for the…

March 6, 2017

Mizzou New Music Initiative seeks high school students for Missouri Summer Composition Institute

The Mizzou New Music Initiative is looking for Missouri high school students interested in music composition to attend this year’s Missouri Summer Composition Institute, which will be held from Sunday, June 18 through Saturday, June 24 on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia.…

Feb. 24, 2017

Aaron Mencher wins third place in American Prize composition competition

Mizzou student composer Aaron Mencher's piece "New" last month was awarded third place in the 2016 American Prize in Composition - Band/Wind Ensemble, Student Division competition. Mencher (pictured) is a sophomore composition major and Sinquefield Scholar from John’s Creek, GA, a suburb of Atlanta. "New" previously was a winner in the 2015 NAfME Student Composers…