Intern Reports

I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the Barlow Endowment judging session at Snowbird this year. As an intern, I was not directly involved in judging, but being around experienced composers, conductors, and musicians gave me valuable insight into the process. I learned how powerful it is when composers bring their own experiences and emotions into their work, and how that balance of emotion and technique helps music truly connect with people. I was especially impressed by the number of high quality submissions. So many pieces were creative, sophisticated, and deserving of recognition. It was inspiring to see how close the competition was and to be reminded that awards do not define the value of one’s art. This experience motivated me to continue growing as an artist. I am very grateful to the Barlow family for their support of the arts and for the impact this experience has had on me.

Going to Snowbird to assist and observe the judging process for the Barlow endowment was an experience I never thought I would have. I was blown away by the level of professionalism of everyone involved as well as the wonderful treatment we all received. Getting to spend my time hearing from composers at a high academic level was a real treat. It helped me get a better sense of what I might expect in my future schooling and career. I am also very grateful for the recreational activities I got to be involved in, such as hiking and eating good food. I feel like I have a much better sense of what the professional composing world looks like after having done this internship. It was very helpful for me to be around such high achieving individuals in the field. The board of advisors especially were each inspiring to me. They have taken in such a large amount of music and are incredibly well networked. They made some really interesting comments about the music they were judging, and I got to write down a good amount of notes. I am super grateful to BYU and the Barlow endowment for making this experience possible for me. It has already changed my life!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be an intern for the 2025 Barlow Endowment. It truly was a wonderful experience, and I especially thank the Barlow family for supporting this event. It was very enlightening to be surrounded by accomplished musicians, both in formal and casual settings. Being able to talk to the advisors and guest judges about the experiences that led them to where they are now was very beneficial. Seeing some similarities between the experiences I have had so far and theirs was also reassuring and inspiring. Some of the most impactful things I took away from this week took place during the judging rounds. I specifically remember discussions about form and texture that I found fascinating and edifying. There were a few times when a judge would make an observation about the “thickness” or “thinness” of a piece’s texture that I had not noticed myself. This broadened my understanding of why certain pieces felt more appealing to me than others. It was also interesting to see the judge’s reactions as different sections of a piece were played. I would like to again express my gratitude to the Barlow family for providing this amazing opportunity.

This year was my second year participating as an intern for the Barlow Endowment and I couldn’t be more grateful to be invited back. I thank Gloria Barlow Bowman and the entire Barlow family for the opportunities I’ve had to be an intern at Snowbird and the opportunities that the Barlow Endowment provides to composers all around the world. As I’ve worked with such a diverse group of advisors and guest judges, I’ve noticed the varieties in personal musical preference, compositional and musical abilities, and ideas regarding the direction of future new music. While some judges prefer an emphasis on a carefully constructed tuneful melody, others might prefer innovative instrumentations and more ambient textural pieces. No matter the differences in the judge's perspectives, they all manage to show respect and integrity to each other and to the composers whose work they are reviewing. However, I did notice a surprising shift in the preferences in new music styles from last year’s Barlow experience, in the judging decisions and in the composers' submissions themselves. I’ve realized that every piece of music submitted and every composer who participates holds significant value, even if they don’t receive a commission.

This was my second time as an intern for the Barlow Endowment, and it was even more rewarding than before. I had more opportunities to connect with professional composers, including conversations about my own work and shared experiences living in Argentina, which led to meaningful exchanges and career advice. These interactions also became valuable learning moments. I was reminded that being transparent with influences can elevate music from derivative to inspired, that variety and development are essential to maintain listener engagement, and that clarity in presentation is critical, as poor recordings or unchanging textures can lead to rejection. I am grateful to the Barlow family for the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow through this experience.