Pictured, from left: Cooper Drury, dean of the College of Arts and Science; Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield; Dean Wibe; Matthew Martens, provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs; and University of Missouri President Mun Choi.
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 Cairns 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.
This story originally appeared on Show Me Mizzou.
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