Diplomats, musicians, educators and cultural leaders gathered Thursday at the Salt Lake City Public Library for Utah Global Diplomacy’s annual Music Diplomacy Symposium, an event exploring the unique ability of music to transcend borders, foster understanding and strengthen relationships between people and nations.
Hosted by Utah Global Diplomacy in partnership with the Utah Chamber Music Festival, the symposium brought together leaders from Utah’s diplomatic and music communities for an afternoon of conversations examining the historic and modern role of music in cultural diplomacy.
“Diplomacy is about cultivating relationships between people from different backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives. Music has an extraordinary ability to create understanding and build relationships in ways that words sometimes cannot,” said Jennie Lloyd, Board Chair of Utah Global Diplomacy. “This year’s theme of Music Without Borders demonstrated that diplomacy doesn’t happen only between governments. Artists, musicians and everyday citizens can all play an important role in building trust, understanding and meaningful relationships across cultures.”
Throughout history, music has served as far more than entertainment. Music has helped preserve cultural identity, inspire democratic movements and create dialogue across political and cultural divides. Thursday’s symposium examined that legacy while considering how musicians, cultural organizations and individual citizens can continue using music to strengthen international relationships today.
The program featured a fireside conversation with Steve Brosvik, President and CEO of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, and internationally acclaimed violinist and Utah Chamber Music Festival founder William Hagen. Hagen and Brosvik’s conversation highlighted Utah’s rich musical heritage, barriers to international cultural exchange, and the opportunity to elevate Utah’s growing reputation as a vibrant center for music and the arts.
The symposium featured a “Music Across Borders” panel exploring music’s unique ability to transcend cultural, linguistic and political differences. Panelists shared examples of how exposure to diverse musical traditions can challenge assumptions, build understanding and create shared experiences where words sometimes fall short. The discussion highlighted music’s role in cultural diplomacy, including its ability to ease tensions, open doors for dialogue and help countries share their culture and identity with the world. From classrooms and community performances to international diplomacy, panelists emphasized the power of music to celebrate diversity, strengthen relationships and build meaningful connections across borders.
The symposium concluded with an evening keynote and musical performance by Hagen.
“Music is one of the few languages that truly doesn’t need translation,” said Hagen, internationally acclaimed violinist and founder of the Utah Chamber Music Festival. “When musicians from different countries and cultures come together, we may have different backgrounds and experiences, but the moment we begin making music, we are listening to one another and creating something together. That is what makes music such a natural and powerful form of diplomacy.”
A Salt Lake City native, Hagen has performed throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia with major orchestras and at renowned venues including Wigmore Hall, the Louvre and Abravanel Hall. He trained under Itzhak Perlman at The Juilliard School and performs on a 1732 Stradivari violin.
The Music Diplomacy Symposium reflects Utah Global Diplomacy’s nearly 60-year commitment to connecting Utah with the world through citizen diplomacy and also serves as a launch for the iconic Vivaldi by Candlelight concert, which will be held on December 5, 2026. With registration now open, this year’s concert, entitled “Masters of the Baroque” will be conducted by Gerad Elias and feature five international musicians from Brazil, Italy, New Zealand, Peru and Germany
