Composer Katherine Balch and singer-songwriter David Longstreth have been named Distinguished Guest Composers for the 18th annual Mizzou International Composers Festival.

The festival, which will take place July 25 through 31, 2027 in Columbia, Missouri, will feature GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble Alarm Will Sound returning as Resident Ensemble, with applications now open for eight Resident Composers to write new works for the group.

Balch, currently Associate Professor of Composition at the Yale School of Music, has received commissions and performances from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, and the symphony orchestras of Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Minnesota, among others. Longstreth is best-known as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the indie rock band Dirty Projectors and has collaborated with Björk, Solange, and Joanna Newsom. He composed the score to the 2025 film “The Legend of Ochi” and co-wrote the 2015 single “FourFiveSeconds” with Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney.

The festival will feature concerts, workshops, and masterclasses, culminating in a Saturday night grand finale presenting world premieres of new works by each of the eight Resident Composers, performed by Alarm Will Sound under Artistic Director Alan Pierson. The program will also include a special guest performance by Chicago-based contemporary ensemble, Ensemble Dal Niente.

The Resident Composer program is tuition-free and includes accommodations, individual meetings with both Distinguished Guest Composers, rehearsals with Alarm Will Sound, professional recording of premiere performances, and transportation.