Oct. 3, 2025
Photos by Abbie Lankitus
The University of Missouri School of Music and Mizzou New Music Initiative have awarded the 2026 Sinquefield Composition Prize to student composer Dean Wibe. The prize is the top award for composition students at Mizzou, made possible by Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield, Rex Sinquefield and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Wibe is a composer and cellist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Iowa. He completed his master of music degree in cello performance at Mizzou and is currently pursuing his second master’s degree at Mizzou.
As the Sinquefield Composition Prize winner, Wibe will receive a $2,500 scholarship and be commissioned to write new work for the Mizzou Wind Ensemble, which will premiere to a campus and community audience at the Chancellor’s Arts Showcase on February 20, 2026. Additionally, the new work will be professionally recorded.
An avid chamber musician, Wibe composed his award-winning entry titled “Entity” while playing cello for the Mizzou New Music Ensemble. He worked closely with the ensemble, experimenting with different approaches centered around a flute technique adapted from a piece by Italian contemporary composer Salvatore Sciarrino.
“I am very inspired by nature,” said Wibe, who enjoys exploring unique timbres created by extended techniques while composing. “I spend a lot of time walking, letting the world around me — its sounds and beauty — fuel my creativity.”
“Congratulations to Dean for being named the 21st winner of the Sinquefield Composition Prize competition,” Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation said. “There’s nothing more wonderful than to sit in a concert hall and hear a piece of music that was written because of our program. The joy of life is music.”
