Aug. 1, 2024

Premieres of works by Resident and Guest Composers highlight the 2024 Mizzou International Composers Festival

The 2024 Mizzou International Composers Festival, held July 22-27 at the University of Missouri and various locations in Columbia, concluded with a concert at the Missouri Theatre. It featured new works by eight MICF Resident Composers, performed by Ensemble-in-Residence Alarm Will Sound. This year’s Resident Composers are Lukáš Janata, Davor Vincze, Yingting Liu, Lila Meretzky, Benjamin Scheuer, ess whiteley, Mahbod Shirvani, and Claire Hu. The Festival also included a concert in which Alarm Will Sound performed pieces by Distinguished Guest Composers Mary Kouyoumdjian (Paper Pianos, a finalist for…

June 28, 2024

Mizzou International Composers Festival Spotlight: Distinguished Guest Composer Mary Kouyoumdjian

The Mizzou New Music Initiative is pleased to welcome Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary Kouyoumdjian as one of two Distinguished Guest Composers for the 2024 Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF). The Festival, which takes place from Monday, July 22 through Saturday, July 27 on the campus of the University of Missouri and at select Columbia locations, will also welcome Distinguished Guest Composer George Lewis. Kouyoumdjian, who returns to the Festival after attending as a Resident Composer in 2016, will have private meetings with the current Resident Composers, work with…

June 28, 2024

Mizzou International Composers Festival Spotlight: Distinguished Guest Composer George Lewis

The Mizzou New Music Initiative is pleased to welcome George Lewis as one of two Distinguished Guest Composers for the 2024 Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF). The Festival, which takes place from Monday, July 22 through Saturday, July 27 on the campus of the University of Missouri and at select Columbia locations, will also welcome Distinguished Guest Composer Mary Kouyoumdjian. Lewis will have private meetings with the Resident Composers, work with groups who will be performing his music at the Festival, and make a public presentation about his…

Feb. 19, 2024

Mizzou New Music Initiative releases 2023 activity summary

The Mizzou New Music Initiative has released its summary of 2023 activities for the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, composition students and Mizzou International Composers Festival. MIZZOU NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE The NME performed concerts including music by Maria Disandro, Santiago Beis, Sam Whitty, Franco Donatoni, Kevin Day, Gabe Evers, Sofia Fiorino, and Atticus Schlegel in the spring semester. A March residency with Elizabeth A. Baker resulted in a video performance. The ensemble performed during the Latin American Music Festival in Columbia on April 10 and at UMKC on…

March 25, 2021

George Lewis’ virtual residency at Mizzou to include public panel discussion and more

The renowned composer, musician, educator, and author George Lewis will take part in a “virtual residency” for the Mizzou New Music Initiative next month. Lewis (pictured) will coach the Mizzou New Music Ensemble in preparation for their performance of his composition “Les exercises spirituels” in an online concert at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 14. The performance will be available to view on the University of Missouri School of Music’s YouTube channel and on the Mizzou New Music Facebook page. Then on Thursday, April 15, Lewis will be one of the panelists for a School of Music convocation…