Two classical music composers from Columbia, Missouri, have been recognized in the 2026 Missouri Composers Project for their orchestral works. Renan Reis Leme won the open category, while Gilbert Gavin Slade Bach received an honorable mention in the high school division. Their compositions will be performed at a public concert in March.
The 2026 Missouri Composers Project, organized by the MU New Music Initiative, selected compositions from composers across the state in orchestral and choral categories, each divided into open and high school age groups.
Renan Reis Leme, who serves as the Director of Orchestras at Hickman High School, secured the win in the Open Orchestral category with his piece titled "Adagio y Fuga Porteña." Gilbert Gavin Slade Bach, a junior at Rock Bridge High School, earned an honorable mention in the High School Orchestral category for "Marcia Funebre."
These selections are part of four winners and four honorable mentions overall. The winning and honorable mention compositions will be performed and professionally recorded by the Columbia Civic Orchestra and Premiere Vocal Artists. The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on March 8 at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia, and it is free to the public.
Additionally, the four winners will each receive a $500 honorarium funded by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. This competition highlights emerging talent in classical music within Missouri, providing a platform for new works to reach audiences through live performances.
