Bard College Partners With City of Kingston and World Affairs Council on Historic “Music and Diplomacy” Event

Bard College, together with the City of Kingston and the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley, will host “Music and Diplomacy” on March 29 as part of the City of Kingston’s 250 Years of America’s Voices, Stories and Histories series of events. The event, which takes place on Sunday March 29 from 3 to 5 pm at Old Dutch Church in Kingston, will explore how music has served as an important element of intercultural exchange and American soft power throughout US history. It will open with a performance by the Bard East/West Ensemble, founded by the Bard Conservatory of Music’s US-China Music Institute, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Malia Du Mont, vice president for strategy and policy and chief of Staff at Bard. The panel will comprise renowned musicians who have a background in international education, diplomacy, and cultural exchange including Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute; Jim Ketterer, senior fellow at the Bard College Center for Civic Engagement; and Philip D. Tappan, pianist, composer, conductor, and deputy commander of the West Point Band. “Music has long played an important part in diplomatic and cultural relations between nations,” Du Mont said. “We are lucky that our community is home to musicians who have played a part in this story, bringing America’s musical heritage to other countries. This program will be a fascinating opportunity to hear from musician-diplomats about their experiences, in their own words and also through a unique musical performance.”

Post Date: 02-25-2026