Oct. 11, 2017

Missouri student composers are eligible for awards, cash prizes from Mizzou’s Creating Original Music Project (COMP)

While the tools for writing music have evolved over time - from pen, paper and piano to computers, samples and synthesizers - young composers today still face the same challenge they've had for hundreds of years: getting their music heard. That 's why the Mizzou New Music Initiative began the Creating Original Music Project (COMP).…

Oct. 2, 2017

Aaron Mencher wins 2018 Sinquefield Composition Prize

The University of Missouri School of Music and the Mizzou New Music Initiative have awarded the 2018 Sinquefield Composition Prize to Aaron Mencher. Mencher (pictured) is a junior and Sinquefield Scholar at Mizzou, studying composition with Carolina Heredia. He submitted “Bluish Orange,” a work written for flute, clarinet, and saxophone, to the competition and was…

Sept. 27, 2017

Composer Steven Snowden visiting Mizzou for residency from October 1-3

Composer Steven Snowden will visit the Mizzou campus next week for a residency starting Sunday, October 1 and culminating in a "Composer Portrait" concert of his works at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 3 at Whitmore Recital Hall. The concert will include Mizzou faculty ensemble DRAX performing the world premieres of “Where are Our Mothers” and…

Sept. 26, 2017

Mizzou New Music Ensemble playing works by Mizzou composers past and present on Monday, October 16 at Whitmore Recital Hall

The Mizzou New Music Ensemble's first concert of the 2017-18 season will feature music from two Mizzou alumni, one new faculty member, and more. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 16 at Whitmore Recital Hall on the Mizzou campus. Admission is $5 for the general public, free for Mizzou faculty, students…

Sept. 21, 2017

Missouri Composers Project (MOCOP) looking for new orchestral, choral works for concert in March 2018

While writing music may be a solitary activity, composers of new music for orchestra or chorus ultimately need the help of many others to bring their works to life in concert. That's why the Missouri Composers Project (MOCOP) once again in 2018 will offer performance opportunities for new, large-ensemble music written by Missouri residents. Now…

Aug. 31, 2017

Mizzou faculty ensemble ZouM to perform Friday, September 8 in Columbia and Saturday, September 9 in St. Louis

The Mizzou faculty collective ZouM will showcase new music from six living composers with performances next weekend in Columbia and St. Louis. They'll play at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 8 at Whitmore Recital Hall on the MU campus, then travel to St. Louis for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 9 at Washington University's…

Aug. 22, 2017

St. Louis Symphony musicians to read works by Mizzou composers

Three student composers from the University of Missouri School of Music will get a chance this academic year to have their orchestral works read, critiqued, and then played again by musicians from the St. Louis Symphony. Under the auspices of the Mizzou New Music Initiative, student composers Dustin Dunn, Aaron Mencher, and Douglas Osmun (pictured)…

July 24, 2017

Composers Festival spotlight: Georg Friedrich Haas

Georg Friedrich Haas, one of the two distinguished guest composers at the 2017 Mizzou International Composers Festival, is known and respected internationally as one of the major European composers of his generation. Considered to be a leading exponent of "spectral music" and sometimes compared to György Ligeti for his use of microtonality, Haas has lectured…