May 5, 2025

Mizzou New Music Initiative to expand thanks to $4.6 million gift

A $4.6 million gift from Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield, Rex Sinquefield, and the Sinquefield CharitableFoundation will ensure University of Missouri students continue to redefine the sounds oftomorrow through the Mizzou New Music Initiative. The funding will expand opportunities for students and faculty, supercharging a program alreadyknown for fostering bold, original compositions and turning visionary ideas into reality. “My goal is to make Missouri a mecca for musical composition,” said Jeanne Sinquefield, amember of the UM Board of Curators and founder of the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI). “The MNMI covers K-12, undergraduate,…

April 30, 2025

World premiere performance of Yoell Tewolde’s “waves on the shore” earns rave review from St. Louis American

Chris King of The St. Louis American reviewed the world premiere of Yoell Tewolde’s waves on the shore, which was performed as part of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra‘s “Live at the Sheldon” series on April 24 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. Yoell Tewolde Here’s what King wrote about Tewolde, waves on the shore, and the MNMI. One of the many joys of the Live at the Sheldon series is that these concerts feature the world premiere of a…

April 10, 2025

Mizzou Student Yoell Tewolde featured on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s SLSO Stories blog

Mizzou sophomore composition student Yoell Tewolde was recently featured on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s SLSO Stories blog. Tewolde’s piece waves on the shore for piano and wind quintet will be given its world premiere performance at 7:30 p.m. April 24 as part of the SLSO’s final “Live at the Sheldon” chamber-music concert of the season.   The series is an ongoing collaboration between the SLSO and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. The April 24 concert, held at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, is titled “Wind and Water” and is curated by the…

April 1, 2025

Students Gonzalez, Schlegel, and Wolfe premiere new works with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

New works by three University of Missouri School of Music students were given their world premiere on Wednesday, March 26, in a concert by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis. SLSO Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister led the performance. Harry Gonzalez, a master’s student from Medellin, Colombia; Atticus Schlegel, a senior from St. Louis; and JT Wolfe, a senior from St. Joseph, MO, were selected to participate in the program through a collaboration between the SLSO and the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI). The pieces performed…

March 18, 2025

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to Premiere Three New Works from Mizzou Student Composers at March 26 Concert at The Touhill

Three University of Missouri School of Music students will have their original compositions performed by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) at a special concert at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri in St. Louis on March 26, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. This concert will feature works by Harry Gonzalez, a master’s student from Medellin, Colombia; Atticus Schlegel, a senior from St. Louis; and JT Wolfe, a senior from St. Joseph, MO. They were selected through a collaboration between the SLSO and the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI). The program is funded by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. The new…

March 5, 2025

Mizzou student Henry Rusten featured in Cape Girardeau’s Southeast Missourian and on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s SLSO Stories blog

Mizzou student Henry Rusten, a composer and multi-instrumentalist, was recently featured in Cape Girardeau’s Southeast Missourian and on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s SLSO Stories blog. Rusten’s piece Paradigm Shift for string quartet will be given its world premiere performance at 7:30 p.m. March 6 as part of the SLSO’s “Live at the Sheldon” chamber-music series.   Henry Rusten The series is an ongoing collaboration between the SLSO and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. The March 6 concert, held at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, is titled “Echoes of Home” and curated by the orchestra’s violinist…

Jan. 21, 2025

Mizzou student Seda Balci featured on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s SLSO Stories blog

Mizzou student Seda Balci, a composer and pianist, was recently featured on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s SLSO Stories blog. Balci’s piece Adieu to the Moon will be given its world premier performance at 7:30 p.m. January 30 as part of the SLSO’s “Live at the Sheldon” chamber-music series.   The series is an ongoing collaboration between the SLSO and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. The January 30 concert, held at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, is curated by the orchestra’s bass clarinetist…

July 12, 2024

MICF Resident Composer Spotlight: Mahbod Shirvani

Mahbod Shirvani is an Iranian electroacoustic composer and tar player based in the United States. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Persian music performance, studying under Darioush Talaei, Siamak Aghaei, Hossein Alizadeh, and Azin Movahed at the University of Tehran. Mahbod Shirvani Shirvani has participated in international master classes and lessons with renowned composers such as Ken Ueno, Nina C. Young, Chaya Czernowin, Katharina Rosenberger, Marco Stroppa, Joachim Heintz, and Fanis Gioles. Throughout his career, Shirvani has delivered a number of performances as both a performer and composer, including roles as a theater and film composer in Iran. He…