K-12 Student Composers Win Statewide New Music Competition

Columbia, Mo., March 18, 2026 -- The Mizzou New Music Initiative is pleased to announce that 38 new musical compositions and songs written by students in grades K-12 from across Missouri have won top honors in the 2026 Creating Original Music Project (COMP). COMP showcases original music from Missouri student composers and songwriters and offers them positive recognition, prizes, public performances and educational opportunities.

Now in its 21st year, COMP is an annual statewide competition sponsored by the Mizzou New Music Initiative and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. A complete list of the 2026 COMP competition categories and winners can be found here: https://mnminews.missouri.edu/2026/03/38-musical-compositions-written-by-k-12-student-composers-win-statewide-competition-sponsored-by-mizzou-new-music-initiative/

For the competition, students in grades K-12 submit compositions in the following categories: Instrumental Music, Songs with Words, Notated Music, Acoustic Popular Genres, Produced/Electronic Genres, and Jazz. All entries must be original music written by the student.

The winning compositions will be performed at the COMP Festival on April 18 in the Sinquefield Music Center’s Sheryl Crow Hall at the University of Missouri in Columbia. In addition, the winning composers and their schools are awarded cash prizes.

Since COMP began in 2006, more than 478 pieces of music by K-12 Missouri composers have been performed. Winning composers from the last 21 years represent 108 different Missouri communities. The 2026 winners come from 13 different cities and towns.

The winners in high school also qualify for priority consideration to attend the Missouri Summer Composition Institute, which will take place June 6-13, 2026 on the Mizzou campus.

The Mizzou New Music Initiative is a diverse array of programs that positions the University of Missouri School of Music as a leading center for the composition and performance of new music. The initiative is supported by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, led by Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. Their vision is to create an incubator for the composition and performance of new music and to showcase Missouri as a center for the music of tomorrow.

For more information about the Mizzou New Music Initiative, and the University of Missouri School of Music, visit www.newmusic.missouri.edu.