Feb. 3, 2026
Alarm Will Sound, Featuring University of Missouri School of Music Faculty Stefan Freund and Bill Kalinkos, Wins 2026 Grammy Award
Two University of Missouri School of Music faculty members were recognized as winners at the 2026 Grammy Awards on February 1 in Los Angeles. Stefan Freund and Bill Kalinkos are founding members of Alarm Will Sound, whose album Land of Winter won the Grammy for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance. Alarm Will Sound is the ensemble-in-residence for the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI). Alarm Will Sound at the 2026 Grammy Awards (photo by Paul Melnikow) Freund is a Professor of Music Composition, Co-founder and the Artistic Director of the …
Nov. 11, 2025
Two University of Missouri School of Music Faculty Members nominated for a 2026 Grammy Award as Part of New Music Ensemble Alarm Will Sound.
Two University of Missouri School of Music faculty members are among the nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards. Stefan Freund and Bill Kalinkos are founding members of Alarm Will Sound, whose album Land of Winter was nominated for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance. The piece itself was also nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. Freund is a Professor of Music Composition, the Artistic Director of the Mizzou New Music Initiative, and Director of the Mizzou New Music Ensemble. Kalinkos…
July 29, 2019
A look back at the 2019 Mizzou International Composers Festival
July 21, 2019
Composers Festival spotlight: Donnacha Dennehy
Donnacha Dennehy returns to the Mizzou International Composers Festival in 2019 as a distinguished guest composer, having previously served in the same capacity in 2012, and thereby making MICF history by becoming the only composer to play that role twice. Considered one of Ireland’s top living composers, Dennehy (pictured) is a founder of the new music group Crash Ensemble and an associate professor of music at Princeton University. His music has been featured at major festivals and venues around the world, including the Edinburgh International Festival; Carnegie Hall; the Tanglewood Festival; the Kennedy Center; The Barbican, Wigmore…
July 15, 2019
2019 Mizzou International Composers Festival complete schedule
Here is the complete schedule of events for the 2019 Mizzou International Composers Festival. Celebrating its tenth year in 2019, the MICF begins on Monday, July 22 and continues through Saturday, July 27. All festival events listed are free and open to the public, with general admission seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Events will take place at the Fine Arts Building and Loeb Hall on the campus of the University of Missouri; at the Missouri Theatre, Cafe Berlin, and two “pop-up” locations in downtown Columbia; and at the Firestone Baars Chapel on the campus of Stephens College.
July 14, 2019
Composers Festival spotlight: Mizzou New Music Ensemble
Occupying their usual spot in the festival lineup, the Mizzou New Music Ensemble will be performing during the 2019 Mizzou International Composers Festival as part of Friday night’s “Mizzou New Music” concert at the Missouri Theatre. Their portion of the evening’s program will include works by the MICF’s two distinguished guest composers – “The Blotting” by Donnacha Dennehy and “World Under Glass No. 2” by Amy Beth Kirsten – as well as music by Mizzou student Jack Snelling. The Mizzou New Music Ensemble (pictured) is made up of University of Missouri graduate students under the direction of…
July 11, 2019
2019 MICF in the media
With this year’s Mizzou International Composers Festival fast approaching, MNMI has been working to get the word out via local media. For starters, the “Mizzou Music” radio program, heard at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evenings on Columbia’s classical music station KMUC, has been airing a series of interviews with participants in this year’s MICF. Composers interviewed by host Aaron Hay so far include Peter Shin, Nicole Murphy, Inti Viggis-Vizueta, Donnacha Dennehy, Chelsea Komschlies, Kristina Wolfe, Theo Chandler and Mizzou’s own Aaron Mencher. Still to come are interviews with Charles Halka, Amy Beth Kirsten,…
May 16, 2019
2019 Mizzou International Composers Festival adding
more concerts, offering free admission to all events
Khemia Ensemble For its tenth year, the Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF) in 2019 is adding five more concerts and an audio installation, and is making all MICF events free and open to the public. Presented by the Mizzou New Music Initiative and the University of Missouri School of Music from Monday, July 22 through Saturday, July 27 in Columbia, the MICF once again will feature three evening concerts at the Missouri Theatre. Resident ensemble Alarm Will Sound will perform on Thursday, July 25, followed by “Mizzou New Music” on Friday, July 26 and “Eight World Premieres”…