Mizzou International Composers Festival 2027

MICF will be held July 25-31, 2027 with arrival in Columbia, MO on Saturday, July 24, 2027 and will feature concerts of music by contemporary composers performed in front of live audiences, along with in-person workshops, master classes, and other events, including a concert by guest ensemble, Ensemble Dal Niente. Festival events will take place in the Sinquefield Music Center and Missouri Theatre. Saturday night’s grand finale will present 8 world premieres composed by each of the festival’s resident composers for GRAMMY® award-winning resident ensemble Alarm Will Sound, conducted by artistic director Alan Pierson. 

MICF Resident Composers are selected each year through an online portfolio application process. During the festival, the selected resident composers will have indiviual meetings with our two Distinguished Guest Composers, Katherine Balch and Dave Longstreth.

Katherine Balch and Dave Longstreth will engage with the 8 selected Resident Composers and help facilitate consultations with Alarm Will Sound. Resident Composers will take part in rehearsals with Alarm Will Sound and receive a professional live recording of their work. Festival tuition, lodging, and ground transportation (whenever possible) to and from airports within Missouri for each selected composer will be provided through generous contributions by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Resident Composers will be responsible for their flights and meals.

To apply:

• Upload three scores of original works with contrasting instrumentation. If you have a piece scored for large ensemble (orchestra, sinfonietta, string orchestra, wind ensemble, etc.), please include that work as one of the three submitted scores.
• Upload recordings for the same pieces. Live recordings are preferred, but MIDI recordings are accepted.
• Upload a CV/Resume (two-page maximum)
• Pay the $5 (USD) application fee