The Kingston Chamber Music Festival invites audiences to engage more deeply with its 38th season through the return of Kingston Notes, the Festival’s podcast hosted by Anna Gray. Season Two opens with Artistic Director Natalie Zhu, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the ideas shaping this summer’s programming.
In this first episode, Zhu reflects on the season as a “journey… through time, identity, and exchange,” where music becomes an ongoing conversation between past and present. Rather than presenting a purely commemorative season, she emphasizes reflection—particularly as 2026 marks America’s 250th anniversary, exploring how chamber music has evolved through cultural exchange across generations. At the center of her vision is the idea of music as a space for connection. “I don’t want the music to give an easy answer,” Zhu shares. “I want it to open a space… where we can listen, reflect, and share
something together.”
The episode also offers insight into the creative process behind the Festival, from shaping a season’s central idea to bringing together artists and repertoire in meaningful dialogue. As Zhu describes, KCMF is not only a series of performances, but a living, collaborative experience, one that continues to evolve with each season.
With the launch of Season Two, Kingston Notes extends the Festival beyond the concert hall, inviting listeners to connect more deeply with the artists, ideas, and stories that define KCMF. The podcast is available on both Apple Music and Spotify, and the first episode of Season Two is now live.
