Mary Ann Poling, interim director of the Peabody Children's Chorus, sent a heartfelt letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, to express her gratitude for enabling exchange between the Chinese and American youth.

Poling recounted her experience of leading 24 American students to China through the Zhiyin Initiative in July 2026. Highlighting how music serves as a universal bridge for cultural understanding, she explained how the traditional Chinese concept of Zhiyin – representing deep mutual understanding and friendship – inspired the young musicians to foster lasting cross-cultural connections.