COLUMBIA, MO, March 15, 2010 -- A total of 31 students across Missouri have been awarded prizes in the fifth annual Creating Original Music Project (C.O.M.P.), a joint venture of the University of Missouri School of Music and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Sponsored by an annual gift of $50,000 from Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, COMP’s purpose is to encourage k-12 students in Missouri to write original musical works and have their music performed. More than 100 entrants submitted compositions, with first-place, second-place and third-place winners named in eight different categories.
Winning compositions will be performed at the Creating Original Music Project Festival in the Fine Arts Building at the University of Missouri’s School of Music on Saturday, April 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both the composers and their music programs will receive cash prizes. High school winners will receive a scholarship to attend Mizzou’s high school summer music composition camp.
“The number of applicants and the quality of music submitted has been increasing every year,” said Dr. Sinquefield. “The number of repeat winners shows we are making progress in developing our own talent here in Missouri.”
This year’s categories and winners include:
Elementary Song with Words
1. April Fun, by Samantha Hite, Reeds Spring Elementary, Highlandville;
2. Roses in the Winter, by Alicia Flavin and Marley Wurzer, Lee Elementary, Columbia;
3. Hope Is Such a Beautiful Thing, by Katherine Hostetler, Savannah Kitchen, Adriannah Silvey, Shepard Blvd. Elementary, Columbia.
Elementary Instrumental
1. The Cat and Mouse, by HyunJun Yoo, Fairview Elementary, Columbia;
2. JJ Jam, by Jonathan Padgett and Jack Roth, Reed Elementary; Ladue;
3. When the Rain Comes Down, by Nichole Bryan, North County Christian School, Florissant.
Middle School Pop
1. Dry, by Tanner Qualls, home school, Lee’s Summit;*
2. Lies, by Isaac Baker, Austin Culbertson, Ross Menefee and Nick Roberts, Lange Middle School, Columbia;*
3. When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way, by Jacob Filer, Harrisonville Christian School, Harrisonville.*
Middle School Fine Art
1. The Escape by Night, by Nick Funke, Rockwood South Middle School, Fenton;*
2. A Distant Folk Land, by Mingu Kim, West Junior High, Columbia;*
3. Childhood Memories, by Alice Ann Yu, Smithton Middle School, Columbia.*
High School Fine Art
1. Clarinet Quid Libet, by Alexander Blank, Webster Groves High School, Rock Hill;*,HS
2. String Quintet, by Grant Bradshaw, home school, Columbia;*,HS
3. Winter Sunset, by Victoria Yu, Rock Bridge High School, Columbia.*,HS
High School Pop
1. Bullet, by Mitchell Kilpatrick, Truman High School, Independence;*
2. Light of Day, by Taylor Qualls, home school, Lee’s Summit;*
3. Unsure, by Eric Geil, home school, Grandview;*
4. Today Is the Day, by Jaron Geil, home school, Grandview.
High School Sacred
1. Star Breather, by Anna Martin, Providence Fine Arts Center, Florissant;
2. Who You Are, by Holly Morris, home school, Lee’s Summit;
3. Dance for the King, by Katie Benjamin, Providence Fine Arts Center, Florissant.
High School Other
1. Journey of the Leaves, by Christopher John Poetz, home school, Eureka;
2. Highlands, by Kenneth Baker, Kirkwood Senior High School, Kirkwood.
*Repeat winners; HS -- attended High School Summer Camp for Composition
Each student who applies must have the signature and sponsorship of his/her school’s music teacher. Community agencies, churches, after-school programs, private teachers and other musical mentors may sponsor their young musicians in partnership with the student’s school music teacher.
Levels of competition and accepted categories of music (e.g., fine art, popular, sacred and others) are based on the student’s grade level. More information is available online at http://web.missouri.edu/~umcasmusicwww/COMP/k-12.html.
The C.O.M.P. program is part of the University of Missouri’s New Music Initiative, a diverse array of programs intended to position the school as a leading center for music composition and new music. The initiative is a direct result of a $1 million donation by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Dr. Sinquefield and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, which is headquartered in Osage County, Missouri, have a long history of supporting organizations that enhance music, art and education. Dr. Sinquefield greatly values the lifelong benefits of exposure to music. Her passion for music comes alive each season as a bassist in the Columbia Civic Symphony Orchestra, the 9th Street Symphony in Columbia and the Jefferson City Symphony.