Sinquefield Composition Prize
The Sinquefield Composition Prize is an annual competition for students at the University of Missouri. The winner is given an opportunity to write an original work for one of Mizzou's premiere large ensembles and have his/her music performed and recorded. The 2025 commissioned work will be written for the University of Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 2025 Sinquefield Prize winner will be announced in November 2024.
Listen to the winning works from previous years here:
Fall Semester (August): Submission of entry materials due.
September: Winner announced internally.
Late fall semester: Public announcement.
Spring Semester (January): Score and parts arre due.
February: Premiere at the Chancellor's Arts Showcase
Any undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Missouri may submit an original fine art composition for consideration. Professional composers from outside the MU School of Music will serve as judges for the competition.
Students will submit works to the School of Music composition faculty. The outside judges will select one composer to write a piece for large ensemble. The winning student must then compose a new work for the Wind Ensemble, the University Philharmonic, or the University Singers.
Student composers will submit one score and corresponding recording (live performance or computer realization) of a representative piece for any instrumentation. The submitted work does not have to correspond to the commission's instrumentation.
The winning student will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to the University of Missouri and a cash prize for the production of score and parts. The commissioned work will be premiered at the annual Chancellor’s Arts Showcase in the Missouri Theatre, giving the winning composer the experience of working with the conductors of and musicians in Mizzou's large ensembles. Following the performance, the selected ensemble will record the commissioned work.
Winning composers should inscribe the score and parts as follows: Commissioned by Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield for the University of Missouri Chancellor’s Arts Showcase. Composers should also include the date of the concert.
Sinquefield Prize Winners and Finalists:
2024
Winner: Seda Balci, Merdiven, composed for the University of Missouri Concert Chorale.
2023
Winner: Morima, Toy Piano Concerto, composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
2022
Winner: Luis Hermano Bezerra, Echoes, composed for the University Wind Ensemble
Finalists:
- María Laura Disandro
- Oswald Huynh
- Jack Snelling
2021
Winner: Santiago Beis, Triadic Bloom, composed for the string section of the University Philharmonic
Finalists:
- Luis Hermano Bezerra
- Daniel Fitzpatrick
- Oswald Huynh
- Daniel Vega
2020
Winner: Ben Rouder, Traces of Them Remain, composed for the University Singers
Finalists:
- Luis Hermano Bezerra
- Daniel Fitzpatrick
- Hans Bridger Heruth
2019
Winner: Niko D. Schroeder, yr Mallet, yr Hammer composed for the University Philharmonic
Finalists:
- Dustin Dunn
- Ben Rouder
2018
Winner: Aaron Mencher, Gravity composed for the MU Wind Ensemble
Finalists:
- Ben Colagiovanni
- Dustin Dunn
- Ben Rouder
- Maeve Smucker
2017
Winner: Douglas Osmun, Transfiguration composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists:
- Hans Bridger Heruth
- Dustin Dunn
- Aaron Mencher
- Maeve Smucker
2016
Winner: Henry Stewart, Sonnet 73: De Profundis composed for University Singers
Finalists:
- Kaylene Cypret
- Justin Pounds
- Matthew Stiens
2015
Winner: Trey Makler, whatever we lose composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists:
- Justin Pounds
- Matthew Stiens
- Robert Strobel
2014
Winner: José Guillermo Martínez Rubiano, Interferencias composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists:
- Joe Hills
- Justin Pounds
- David Witter
2013
Winner: David Witter, Missouri composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists:
- Grant Fonda
- Joe Hills
2012
Winner: Michael E. Anderson, Wisdom's Voice composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists:
- Grant Fonda
- David Witter
2011
Winner: Patrick David Clark, A Fantasy on Themes of Mussorgsky composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists:
- Andy Bowman
- Tony Hernandez
- David Witter
2010
Winner: Michael Strausbaugh, Erebus Fantasia composed for Michael Strausbaugh (guitar) and the University Philharmonic Orchestra
2009
Winner: Stephanie Berg, Motive and Reflection composed for the University Philharmonic Orchestra
2008
Winner: Mark Woodward, Birds of Paradise composed for University Singers
2007
Winner: Katie Andres, Horn Concerto, Movements I and II composed for Marcia Spence (horn) and the University Philharmonic Orchestra
2006
Winner: Patrick Dell, Eidolon composed for the MU Symphonic Wind Ensemble