St. Louis Symphony Orchestra supporting new music through continuation of program with University of Missouri
Orchestra partners with music school for second year of Mizzou New Music Initiative program in which the SLSO, under the direction of Resident Conductor Gemma New, will read works by emerging young composers
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(October 8, 2018, Columbia, MO) - Three University of Missouri student composers will have their works played this year by musicians with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as part of a joint educational venture between the orchestra and the Mizzou New Music Initiative. Student composers Mikkel Christensen, Ben Colagiovanni, and Libby Roberts were selected by SLSO Resident Conductor Gemma New to write new works for a 40-piece chamber orchestra drawn from the musicians of the SLSO. The three works will be read, played and critiqued in a private session with SLSO musicians on Wednesday, October 31, in St. Louis. The composers then will get a chance to revise their music for a second, public reading by the same musicians at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Powell Hall.
Colagiovanni is a senior from St. Louis working toward an undergraduate degree in composition at Mizzou, while Christensen, who's from Lockhart, Texas, and Roberts, a native of Philadelphia, both are in their second year of study for a master's degree. They are the second group of Mizzou composers to take part in the program.
Stefan Freund, professor of composition at the University of Missouri School of Music and artistic director of the Mizzou New Music Initiative, said, "We're very grateful to the St. Louis Symphony and Gemma New for the opportunity to give our students some practical experience working with an ensemble of world-class musicians. There are other programs that give young composers the chance to have their works read by a professional orchestra, but they provide just one chance to work with the musicians. With the two-session format, our composers are able to hear their music played and get feedback directly from Gemma New and the musicians. Then they can make revisions and can hear the results of the changes they've made in the second session. It's the sort of lesson that just can't be delivered in a classroom."
Christensen, Colagiovanni, and Roberts already are working on their compositions, Freund said, and are expected to deliver the first versions of their works to the SLSO in early October.
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as one of today's most exciting and enduring orchestras, the SLSO is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, celebrating its 139th year in the 2018/2019 season. Widely considered one of the world's finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections – all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. The SLSO presents Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with the 2019 season marking the 42nd year of a partnership that is unique in the country.
The Grammy Award–winning SLSO's impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, celebrated recordings, and regular touring activity. The SLSO is a highly respected collaborator and sought-after artistic partner by some of the world's greatest musicians and composers, as well as local and national organizations. The SLSO has a long history of robust and enduring collaborations with artists and composers that have developed and deepened over the years.
Today, the SLSO builds on the institution's current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.
About the Mizzou New Music Initiative
The Mizzou New Music Initiative is an array of programs positioning the University of Missouri's School of Music as a leading center for music composition and new music. The programs of the Mizzou New Music Initiative are made possible through the generous support of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, led by Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield.
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