Julia Calvin Announced As 16th Annual peermusic Latin Scholarship Winner

Delia Orjuela, Director of the BMI Foundation’s peermusic Latin Scholarship, has announced Julia Calvo-Junkin, professionally known as Julia Calvin, as the winner of the 16th annual competition. Calvin, an undergraduate student at the University of Miami, was presented with the $5,000 award for her song “Mi Amor” on March 19th at the BMI Latin Awards in Los Angeles.

This year’s competition featured acclaimed Latin artist Gloria Trevi as its spokesperson, and a judging panel that included Latin GRAMMY-winning musician Nicolás Junca from the band Monsieur Periné; entertainment industry executive Carmen Cervantes; and peermusic’s VPs of East and West Coast Latin Divisions, Julio Bagué and Yvonne Drazan.  

“I am incredibly grateful and excited to receive the peermusic Latin Scholarship award,” said Calvin. “Sometimes it can be difficult to stay positive in the music industry, but winning this award gives me confidence in my music, as well as hope that with hard work and determination I can continue doing what I love for the rest of my life.”

The peermusic Latin Scholarship was established in 2003 through the generosity and vision of peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II, for the purpose of encouraging the next generation of Latin composers. The contest is open to students between the ages of 17 and 24, who are enrolled in any college or university located in the United States and Puerto Rico. A $5,000 scholarship is presented annually for the best original song or instrumental composition in any Latin genre. For over a decade, the program has nurtured promising musicians who have gone on to distinguish themselves in the fields of television, film, recorded music, and concert performance.

Calvin is a Costa Rican-American singer-songwriter currently based in Miami. The majority of her musical sound blends indie pop and alternative rock, with clear influences from her Latin American roots. “Mi Amor” is one of the first songs she ever wrote in Spanish.

An undergraduate at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, she is currently pursuing her degree in popular music composition and music business. Calvin is also working on her next musical project that she hopes will include a blend of songs that showcase her multicultural background.

Listen to her winning track below:

About peermusic

Founded by Ralph Peer in 1928, peermusic is a global network of music publishing companies operating from 33 offices in 27 countries, with well over a quarter of a million titles in the company’s catalogue, and songs that vary from country, blues, jazz, and pop to Latin, concert, and rock & roll. For more information, visitwww.peermusic.com.

About the BMI Foundation

The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information about the work of the Foundation, please visit our website at www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Twitter and  Instagram, and like “BMI Foundation” on Facebook at facebook.com/bmifoundation.