The Mizzou International Composers Festival — taking place each July in Columbia, Missouri — features public concerts, presentations, workshops, and more. Featuring ensemble-in-residence Alarm Will Sound as well as two distinguished guest composers, the festival selects eight resident composers each year through an application process to compose new works that will be premiered by Alarm Will Sound at the festival. During the week, resident composers will rehearse closely with the ensemble, give public presentations on their work, and receive private lessons with the guest composers.

Festival Application Submission Guidelines

Applying to MICF is free.

Follow the Online Application Guidelines:

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

Applications to MICF 2025 are due by October 20, 2024.

The Mizzou New Music Initiative is excited to announce the 16th Annual Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 20 – 26, 2025 on the campus of the University of Missouri.

Eight composers from around the world will be selected through a portfolio application process to compose a work to be performed by the internationally acclaimed new music ensemble, Alarm Will Sound. Composers will take part in discussions and lessons with Distinguished Guest Composers Hilda Paredes and Judd Greenstein; take part in workshops with Alarm Will Sound and receive a professional live recording of the premiere performance of their work.

The eight selected resident composers will be expected to compose a work for Alarm Will Sound’s complete instrumentation (see below) lasting up to 8 minutes in duration. Each selected resident composer must submit a finished preliminary score by April 2025 for review by Alarm Will Sound, and professionally-prepared scores and parts of the final work are due by May 2025. Festival tuition, room, and board for each selected composer will be provided through the generous contributions of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Selected composers will need to pay for transportation to and from Columbia, MO. For participants from countries that require a visa to enter the US, the Festival is unable to assist with payment, but would be happy to provide letters and documents that an applicant may need for their process.

Alarm Will Sound’s Instrumentation

  • Flute/Piccolo
  • Oboe/English horn
  • E-flat Clarinet/B-flat Clarinet
  • B-flat Clarinet/ Bass Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone/Bass Trombone
  • Percussion: Two players with standard multi-percussion, mallet percussion, and drumkit.
  • Piano
  • Violin 1
  • Violin 2/Viola
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass