All Classical Radio Names Anthea Kreston as Artist in Residence

Download high-resolution photos here

PORTLAND, Ore., June 3, 2026 — All Classical Radio (ACR) announced today that violinist Anthea Kreston has been named the media network’s 2026-27 Artist in Residence. Kreston’s residency will run from July 2026 to June 2027. Launched in 2019, ACR’s Artist in Residence program is one of the first created by a radio station in the country. It provides established and emerging artists with opportunities for career advancement, radio and community performances, and professional development. Artists enjoy access to the media network’s world-class facilities, research database and digital music archives, and community and industry networks as part of their residency. Artists in Residence also receive a financial award to advance their creative projects and career development.   

Kreston is first violinist of the Delgani String Quartet and a former member of Germany’s Artemis Quartet. She is a member of the piano quartet The Thunder Egg Consort and the host of the Oregon Symphony’s pre-concert conversations at Smith Auditorium in Salem. She is also an author; in her upcoming memoir, Crescendo: Chronicles of an Adventurous Violinist, Kreston describes her life growing up in Chicago, studying at the Curtis Institute of Music, leaving it all behind for a commune in Oregon, and finally returning to make it to the top of the classical music world.

“All Classical Radio is honored to name Anthea Kreston as its Artist in Residence,” says Fred Child, President and CEO of All Classical Radio. “This program reflects our commitment to championing exceptional artists and connecting our global audience with the creative voices shaping classical music today. Through the Artist in Residence program, Anthea will have the space, resources, and community to explore new artistic possibilities and share her work in meaningful ways. We are thrilled to share our resources with Anthea, and that music lovers around the world will be able to experience and follow this exciting chapter in her quirkily and brilliant artistic journey.” 

As part of her residency, Kreston will author a blog series, documenting her artistic adventures and projects. She’ll perform on Thursdays @ Three, All Classical Radio’s free weekly in-studio broadcast concert, and will collaborate with music director John Pitman to curate and co-host an episode of The Concert Hall, a locally produced weekly radio program featuring the world’s finest orchestras and ensembles. Kreston will also join as a guest for other ACR radio and digital content, and will embark on a collaborative project with The International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN at icanradio.org). ICAN, ACR’s second station, is a free HD and web-streaming network serving children, families, caregivers, and educators.

“It’s inspiring to witness how Anthea connects with audiences locally and worldwide, through her impressive and engaging work as a violinist, journalist, author, and educator,” says Kristina Becker, All Classical Radio’s Communications & Operations Manager, who oversees the program. “We’re looking forward to supporting her projects in our studios and to sharing her voice and creative vision across our radio and digital platforms.”

“As a classical musician, public radio stations are an integral part of our lives,” says Kreston. “I grew up listening to a classical radio station in Chicago, and later was a frequent guest performer. Being a part of All Classical Radio gets me fired up on all cylinders — as a performer, educator, collaborator, and creator. I am honored to be the next Artist in Residence, and so look forward to being a part of this most magnificent team.”

Previous Artists in Residence include violinist Emily Cole and clarinetist James Shields, pianist María García, flutist Adam Eccleston, and pianist Hunter Noack. Last fall, All Classical Radio announced Kirsten Volness as Composer in Residence and flute, piccolo, and saxophone player Dana Sparling as Young Artist in Residence. For the complete list, and to learn more about the Artists in Residence program, visit allclassical.org/artists-in-residence or contact Kristina Becker (kristina@allclassical.org). 

Kreston’s residency is made possible in part by a generous grant from the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

ACR recently announced it has opened its application window for the next Young Artist in Residence. Applications are being accepted through July 2, 2026.

About Anthea Kreston

Anthea Kreston is a violinist who has performed on almost every major concert stage in the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Royal Academy of Music (London), Prince Regent Theater (Munich), Teatro Nacional (Panama City), and Chateau d’Ainay-le-Veil (France). She is currently first violinist of the Delgani String Quartet and a member of the piano quartet The Thunder Egg Consort. She was a member of the Artemis Quartet, a major European string quartet — the only American violinist to hold such a position.

Kreston has played in the Berlin Philharmonic, as principal violin in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, as concertmaster of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project. She was a professor at the Universität der Kunste Berlin, and a master teacher at the Queen Elizabeth Chapel in Brussels. She also enjoys returning to teach at the Curtis Institute of Music, from where she graduated. Her teachers include Ida Kavafian, Shmuel Ashkenasi, the Emerson Quartet, and Isaac Stern. 

As a writer, Kreston is a frequent columnist for the international classical music website Slipped Disc and the founder and curator of the Inside Music Book Club. Her first book is Crescendo: Chronicles of an Adventurous Violinist (Paul Dry Books). She lives in Corvallis, Oregon, with her husband and two daughters. Learn more at antheakreston.com. 

About All Classical Radio and its Artists in Residence Program 

All Classical Radio’s Artists in Residence is an essential component of the station’s programming dedicated to equity and inclusivity in the arts. Previous residency activities and recordings have been generously supported by the Regional Arts & Culture Council. The program was launched in 2019.

All Classical Radio is consistently ranked in the top 3 classical radio stations in the USA. The network is recognized for its bold collaborations and outreach and for broadcasting 98% locally produced programming, including innovative music playlists, interviews, live broadcasts, and arts and culture specials. Home to the groundbreaking Artist Anthology and the award-winning International Children’s Arts Network, All Classical Radio is one of the first classical stations in the nation to name artists and composers in residence and to develop robust youth journalism mentorships.  

Broadcasting from the heart of Downtown Portland, All Classical Radio is an independent and community-funded radio station, providing unparalleled access to classical music, outstanding performances, information about the arts, and more since 1983. Serving roughly 200,000 local households in Oregon and SW Washington, All Classical Radio reaches over a million listeners online in 100 countries around the globe. Listen at 89.9 FM in Portland or anywhere in the world at allclassical.org. 

### 

Media Contact: 

Allison Van Etten 
Vice President | 8VA Music Consultancy 
323.449.5030
allison@8vamusicconsultancy.com