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Interview with 2022 NFA Young Artist Competition Winner, Gregory Bardwell

We had the opportunity to ask Miyazawa Emerging Artist, Gregory Bardwell, some questions about his experience performing in the Young Artist Competition at the 2022 National Flute Association Convention. We enjoyed learning more about his preparation process, advice to future Young Artist applicants, and pre-performance pep talks.

What is one thing you tell yourself before every performance?

I have a couple rituals/mantras before any kind of performance.

The first thing I tell myself before any performance is “Greg, you know how to play the flute!” Basically, I do not let myself entertain this idea that after all these hours of practice, I have no clue what I am doing. At times I get this voice in my head telling me ‘I can’t do it’, so I don’t give it any energy.

Another thing I do, or don’t do, is I don’t shut myself away too much before the competition. In the green room for NFA Young Artist I loved talking to the other competitors, the door monitors, and anyone. I feel that having positive energy exchange with people really puts me in a great mind set. Then, before walking on stage I close my eyes and allow my body and mind to settle in this positive space.

Lastly, while I am on stage, I like to picture that my grandma is sitting there listening to me. My grandma was such a big part of my life and got me started in music. It was very hard when she passed, so I always like to honor her memory by bringing her on stage wherever I go.

Some physical things I think it is important to do is to jump around backstage to burn some adrenaline and keep the blood circulating. And the day of a performance I hydrate very well and I must eat a banana one to two hours before playing.

What did your preparation look like?

My preparation for the competition required me to really discover what is the most effective way for me to work. I thought to do well I needed to outline every minute of my day and create this iron clad schedule that I needed to follow…or else. Then I realized, this was actually not so helpful for me. Especially because during the summer, I was back and forth between Iowa City, St. Louis, and Chicago in preparation for my move to Europe. So to expect this regimented practice of myself was not the most practical way to go.

Instead I identified the technical strengths and weaknesses of my playing. What faults in my playing could get in the way of me communicating the music to the audience and judges? This way if I only had four days to practice in a week I knew exactly where my attention needed to go.

Another part of the preparation was the stamina (mental and physical) that went into competing in a three round competition with varying programs. One of my favorite ways to improve stamina is to listen to my pieces while running. I do this because I can then tell myself “If you can run the length of the first round you can definitely play the flute that long.”  Personally, I like to run a bit faster during sections that make me a little more nervous because I am able to hear it played correctly even with my heart racing.  

What is your advice to future flutists wanting to enter the Young Artist Competition?

Be very honest with yourself. Do not only tell yourself the good things, but do not just tell yourself bad things. The feedback you give yourself should be like a balanced scale. There will be times when it is necessary to take emotion out of the equation and be very clinical with yourself (aka: compartmentalizing). Save the emotion for the music. Preparing for this competition is a lot of work, and I think being only hard on yourself will just cause you to dislike the whole process. Also, whether you are doing any competition or performance, it should not be seen as a demonstration of your work the past couple months. It should instead reflect your entire journey up until that point.

What qualities do you think are most essential to musical excellence?

Hard working: For me, this means doing the work nobody wants to do, when nobody wants to do it and all with a big smile on your face. In addition to working hard, working smart. I come from a family of very hard workers. So even as a kid, I can remember hanging drywall after school, mowing lawns on the weekends, and even repairing a dock in a lake all before I was fourteen. Because of this work I learned three things: 1) the value of a hard day’s work, 2) if you expect anything more than the satisfaction of a hard day’s work you will be disappointed, and 3) if you are dedicated and persistent your work will pay off.

Above all…

Just love music: This is not saying classical music has to be your only interest or the only place you find inspiration, but just love music. Some of my earliest music inspirations came from artists like Dolly Parton, The Grateful Dead, and the “O’ Brother Where art Thou” soundtrack (which my father blared in the house speakers every Sunday morning). I treasure this music just like I treasure my first Jean-Pierre Rampal album. At the end of the day, it is all about people feeling something through music.

How many years have you been attending NFA?

My very first NFA was actually in Chicago in 2014, so this was a full circle for me. Since then I have attended four other ones.

What is something that you look forward to at NFA?

Being a nerd! First I get to see all this music. I remember my first convention very well. I would take the box of music from the table and just sit on the floor looking through it all. Then, when I was finished with that one, I moved to the next one. Secondly, I get to interact with and meet people who love the flute just like me. So it is amazing to at a place where the bigger the flute nerd you are, the better.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Take time to smell the roses.
I know this sounds cheesy but there have been points where I wish I cherished some moments more. As musicians we get to make art for the ears, and that is so amazing. And then thinking this sound-art is a sonic depiction of humanity and all its beauty, ugliness, and everything in between. It is mind-boggling. This understanding of course comes as we mature, but I would like to tell myself to pause for a second to absorb the marvel that is music.

What is next for you and your musical career?

Currently I am in Copenhagen, Denmark studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Ulla Miilmann. One upcoming engagement I am very excited about is playing Shostakovich 4 with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in October. Getting that call was definitely a moment I had to pinch myself. I also plan on taking some auditions, applying for some competitions and festivals, and to work with fellow students to put on chamber concerts in Copenhagen (and hopefully further).

Congratulations, Greg! We can’t wait to see what 2023 brings your way!