In this episode of One Symphony, conductor Devin Patrick Hughes sits down with Lesley Barber, one of today’s most distinctive voices in film and television music.Lesley reflects on improvising and composing before formal training, the influence of classical, pop, and electronic music on her voice, and her intimate, chamber-music approach to the beloved children’s series Little Bear. The conversation then dives deep into Manchester by the Sea, exploring how music can express fate, time, grief, and emotional distance—sometimes by occupying the spaces where dialogue cannot.Together, Devin and Lesley discuss collaboration with filmmakers, writing under extreme deadlines, recording live musicians around the world, and the growing role of film music in the concert hall. This episode offers a rare, thoughtful look at how music uncovers the invisible layers of story—and why the most powerful film scores often “skip the brain and go straight to the emotions.”Music featured in this episode includes selections from Manchester by the Sea, Little Bear, Mansfield Park, You Can Count on Me, Late Night, and Boarding School, all composed by Lesley Barber.