Oct. 1, 2013

St. Louis Symphony plays work by 2012 MICF resident composer Patrick Harlin

Patrick Harlin takes a bow on stage at Powell Hall. (Photo courtesy of Adam Crane, St. Louis Symphony) This past weekend, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performed Patrick Harlin‘s work “Rapture” as a part of their concerts on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28 at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis. Harlin, who currently is working on a DMA at the University of Michigan, was a resident composer at the 2012 Mizzou International Composers Festival. His work was brought to the attention of the SLSO and music director David Robertson though a new collaborative effort…

Aug. 2, 2013

Wrapping up the 2013 Mizzou International Composers Festival

The 2013 Mizzou International Composers Festival has come to a successful conclusion, but we’ve still got a few more Festival-related links to share with you: * The Festival’s Saturday night grand finale concert was named a “Best Bet” for the weekend by St. Louis Post-Dispatch classical music critic Sarah Bryan Miller. * Jeanne Sinquefield, whose Sinquefield Charitable Foundation provides funding for the Festival, was interviewed by KBIA, the NPR affiliate in Columbia, MO. Dr. Sinquefield’s interview with KBIA’s Trevor Harris is available online here. * Resident ensemble Alarm Will Sound has posted on…

March 19, 2013

Mizzou New Music Initiative in the news

The Mizzou New Music Initiative has been in the news for several reasons in recent weeks. Here’s a recap of some recent coverage: Last week’s announcement of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation’s $1.4 million gift to the Initiative was a featured story on the University’s news service, and in Mizzou magazine and Mizzou Weekly.  Local coverage included stories in the Daily Tribune, Missourian and Maneater, and on KBIA and KOMU. The gift also was covered in other publications around the state, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and St. Louis…

March 11, 2013

Missouri Couple Gives $1.4 Million to Continue New Music Initiative

Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield at the Chancellor's Concert on Monday, March 11, announcing a $1.4 million gift to the MU School of Music The University of Missouri has announced that a generous gift from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation will support programs and scholarships directed toward promoting the creation of new music Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield of Westphalia, MO have given the University $1.4 million to continue and expand the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) and the Creating Original Music Project (C.O.M.P) at MU. The gift announcement was made at the annual MU Chancellor’s Concert Monday evening. The…

Oct. 3, 2012

Sinquefield Charitable Foundation commissions new works from Mizzou composers to celebrate The Sheldon’s 100th anniversary

The famous German composer Robert Schumann once said, “In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of.” While that may be true, getting that new composition performed and heard once it is written can be another matter entirely. For an emerging composer writing music inspired by the classical tradition, performance opportunities can be few and far between. To give some of those composers a chance to be heard, the Mizzou New Music Initiative, the Sheldon Concert Hall and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation have joined forces to commission…

June 25, 2012

Patrick David Clark traveling to Iraq to teach composition

Patrick David ClarkComposer and Mizzou graduate Patrick David Clark (pictured) will bring new music to an ancient city when he goes to Iraq at the end of this month. His mission: to teach composition to students in the northern Iraqi town of Erbil. “It’s a kind of cultural diplomacy,” said Clark, who will be traveling under the auspices of the organization American Voices. He will leave for Iraq this Wednesday, June 27 and stay until July 15. “We bring American music and teachers to places where the education system is not its best, due to the country…

June 7, 2012

Tickets now on sale for 2012 Mizzou New Music Summer Festival

Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Mizzou New Music Summer Festival’s concerts on Thursday, July 26; Friday, July 27; and Saturday, July 28. Now in its third year, the Mizzou New Music Summer Festival will take place starting Monday, July 23 through Saturday, July 28 in Columbia, MO. The MNMSF already is established as one of the most noteworthy contemporary music events in the Midwest, attracting attention from composers, musicians, music educators and media around the world. This year’s grand finale will feature the world premieres of eight new works written by the festival’s…

Sep. 6, 2011

New Music Initiative benefactors featured in Philanthropy magazine

Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, whose generous donations established and continue to fund the Mizzou New Music Initiative, were featured in the July issue of Philanthropy magazine as part of a symposium of America’s leading arts donors. The Sinquefields and the other philanthropists interviewed responded to three different questions about funding the arts. You can see their responses here (scroll down each page to find the Sinquefields): Tell Me About A Really Smart Grant to the Arts http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/article.asp?article=1682&paper=0&cat=149 What Is Your Favorite Hidden Gem in Arts and Culture? http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/article.asp?article=1683&paper=0&cat=149 Tell Me Something I Don’t Know about…