University of Missouri School of Music

Jan. 31, 2023

Works by Missouri Composers Project winners to be performed by Columbia Civic Orchestra, Columbia Chamber Choir in Sunday, April 16 concert

The Columbia Civic Orchestra (CCO) and the Columbia Chamber Choir will perform the winning works from the 2023 Missouri Composers Project (MOCOP) competition in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 16 at First Baptist Church, 1112 E. Broadway in Columbia. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public. Now in its eleventh year, MOCOP is a collaborative effort involving the Mizzou New Music Initiative, the Columbia Civic Orchestra, the Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Composers from all over Missouri…

Dec. 28, 2022

End of Fall ’22 semester highlighted by artist residency, SLSO collaboration, Mizzou New Music Ensemble concert

The latter part of the fall 2022 semester has been a busy one for the University of Missouri School of Music and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. Here is a summary of what has been going on. Abstract sound artist Maria Chavez had a five-day residency at Mizzou (Nov. 7-11). The Peruvian turntablist spent time with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble, talking about listening practices and the various influences that inform her work. Chavez demonstrated her turntable skills for students using records that were generously donated by Columbia’s Hitt Street Records. Chavez shared her…

Dec. 13, 2022

Training and opportunities at Mizzou helped Oswald Huỳnh establish himself as a composer on the rise

When composer Oswald Huỳnh was looking for schools to apply to for a master’s degree in music composition, one of his mentors suggested that the University of Missouri School of Music was a school he should keep on his radar. “I was amazed by all the opportunities that were available to the students,” says Huỳnh, who earned his master’s in composition from Mizzou in the spring of 2022. The Portland, Oregon, native was particularly intrigued by opportunities offered by the program to write for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the renowned new-music ensemble Alarm Will Sound. “Orchestra…

Oct. 18, 2022

Duo Axis Residency highlighted by Oct. 21st concert at Sheryl Crow Hall

Duo Axis, the dynamic pairing of flutist Zach Sheets and pianist Wei-Han Wu, will be in residence from October 20-21, 2023 at the University of Missouri School of Music. The Duo Axis residency is funded by the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Wei-Han Wu (left), Zach Sheets (right) During the residency, Duo Axis will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. October 21 in Sheryl Crow Hall. A highlight of the program is a performance of former University of Missouri School of Music faculty member Carolina Heredia’s composition, pruning.

Oct. 17, 2022

Morima Yerby wins 2023 Sinquefield Composition Prize

The University of Missouri School of Music and the Mizzou New Music Initiative have awarded the 2023 Sinquefield Composition Prize to Morima Yerby. Now in its 18th year, the Sinquefield Composition Prize is the top award for a composition student at Mizzou. Morima Yerby As this year’s winner, Morima Yerby will be awarded a $2,500 prize and will be commissioned to write a new work for the MU Symphony orchestra. The Orchestra will premiere the work at the Chancellor’s Arts Showcase in the 2023 Spring semester. The work will also be professionally recorded. The other finalists for the 2023 Sinquefield Composition Prize were: Harry…

Oct. 5, 2022

Composer José Halac’s Oct. 5-9, 2023 residency concludes with Mizzou New Music Ensemble concert

José Halac, an award-winning Argentinian composer and researcher of contemporary music, will be in residence from Wednesday, October 5 through Sunday, October 9, 2022 at the University of Missouri School of Music. Halac’s residency is funded by the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. José Halac                                                  Photo credit: Susana Perez During his residency, Halac will work with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble on his new piece,…

Sep. 11, 2022

Mizzou International Composers Festival announces 2023 Festival Dates and Featured Guest Composers; Opens Resident Composer application process

The Mizzou New Music Initiative has set the dates, named the Featured Guest Composers, and will begin accepting Resident Composer entries for the 2023 Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF). The 14th annual MICF will take place Monday, July 24 through Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the University of Missouri School of Music in Columbia, MO. Alarm Will Sound in concert at the 2022 Mizzou International Composers Festival MICF will once again feature concerts of music by contemporary composers performed in front of live audiences, along with in-person workshops, master classes, and other events. Saturday night’s…

May 26, 2022

2022 COMP Festival showcases performances of award-winning compositions by Missouri students

The winning composers in the 2022 Creating Original Music Project (COMP) competition received awards and had their compositions performed at the COMP Festival on Saturday, April 23rd at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The event took place in Sheryl Crow Hall at the Sinquefield Music Center. The 2022 Junior Division COMP winners and honorable mentions with Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield and MU composition professors Dr. Carolina Heredia and Dr. Stefan Freund. The junior division concert, featuring works by the elementary and middle school winners of this year’s competition, was held from 11:30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.