In July this year, the "Starry Quartet" (First Violin: Xu Langyi, Second Violin: Huang Shaoxuan, Viola: Fan Shuming, Cello: Zhao Yinan), comprising the inaugural cohort of junior students from the Chamber Music Academy of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, traveled to the United States to participate in a month-long Summer String Music Festival organized by the Jacob School of Music, Indiana University. This exchange not only allowed them to engage in face-to-face interactions with renowned musicians from around the world but also showcased the international vision of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and the achievements of the Chamber Music Academy in cultivating high-level performing talents.

The festival spanned a month, filling each day of the "Starry Quartet's" schedule with enriching and challenging activities. In the mornings, they would typically engage in ensemble rehearsals, chamber music performances, and theoretical studies. Afternoons were dedicated to solo practice, with each member assigned a professional instructor for technique and style guidance.  Thanks to their long-term training at the Chamber Music Academy, the "Starry Quartet" excelled in terms of technique, coordination, and musical interpretation, earning the unanimous praise of the artists. They not only delivered outstanding performances of several classical solo and ensemble pieces during masterclasses and concerts but also secured the top spot in the chamber music competition's quartet category, thereby gaining the opportunity to represent students at the festival's closing concert. The Quartet greatly benefited from the abundance of open classes, diversified professional guidance, and international performance platforms, fully demonstrating their talents and profound understanding of music.

Reflecting on their experiences and gains from the festival and artistic exchange, the "Starry Quartet" shared, "Through the performance courses, teachers emphasized the connection between harmonic changes and timbre, offering detailed fingering suggestions for difficult passages to help us select appropriate timbres. This teaching approach not only effectively enhances our playing skills but also enables us to accurately grasp and understand the essence and expression of music. Moreover, teachers specifically instructed us on bow relaxation to control dynamics and note expression, achieving a three-dimensional sound, as well as how to shift positions for a more seamless thematic presentation." The "Starry Quartet" expressed their eagerness to apply the knowledge gained from this exchange to future performances, relentlessly pursuing higher artistic heights and creating their own unique musical voices.