(Photo credit: Festival Napa Valley & Armstrong Music & Arts)

Festival Napa Valley and the Beijing Poly Theatre Management Company have launched a multiyear Cultural Exchange.

This initiative aims to foster collaboration and dialogue through music, education, food and wine events, and cultural tourism. Rick Walker, President and CEO of Festival Napa Valley said in a press release, “Music and wine are powerful unifiers, transcending borders and languages to reflect our shared humanity. Through this partnership…we are creating opportunities for musicians and students from the United States and China to learn from one another, while bringing inspirational performances to audiences in both countries.”

As part of the education programming, select college and preprofessional musicians from China will have the opportunity to participate in Festival Napa Valley’s summer instrumental and vocal training academies. Additionally, high school-aged musicians from China will take part in performances and instructional programs in Napa Valley during the Festival’s 2025 Summer Season. A centerpiece of the exchange is a tour of China in spring 2026 by Festival Orchestra Napa. A group of international arts patrons and dignitaries will accompany the tour, participating in cultural programs and deepening ties between the two regions.

The Beijing Poly Theatre Management Company operates more than 80 theaters across China. Yao Rui, the company’s General Manager said, “Poly Theater looks forward to collaborating with Festival Napa Valley to create a series of cultural exchange projects to promote in-depth cooperation between the two countries in the fields of music and art.”

The Exchange was celebrated on Dec. 6 at the U.S. Embassy’s Beijing American Center. The audience representing the U.S. and China, enjoyed a live performance by soprano Christina Maxwell, pianist Rieko Tsuchida, and violinist Sienna Peck.