New Zealand-born violinist, educator, and arts entrepreneur Dr. Natalie Lin Douglas is the founder and artistic director of Kinetic Ensemble. Committed to amplifying diverse, under-performed, and newly composed classical music through flexible chamber and orchestral ensemble performances, Kinetic has been coined “Houston’s indie, conductorless orchestra” (Houston Public Media), and praised for its “visually arresting… brilliantly executed” performances and “thoughtful, incisive programming” (Arts+Culture Texas). Under her leadership, Kinetic has commissioned and premiered over 20 works by composers of our time, including by Karim Al-Zand, Anthony Brandt, Theo Chandler, Daniel J. Knaggs, Paul Novak, and Nicky Sohn. The ensemble’s self-titled album, which debut #1 at the Billboard Traditional Classical charts, was released in 2023, and its studio recordings are also featured on Pierre Jalbert: String Theory (Orchid Classics, 2021), Karim Al-Zand: Studies in Nature (Centaur, 2018), and Daniel Knaggs: Two Streams (Capella Records, 2023).

A versatile chamber musician, Natalie has toured throughout New Zealand in concerts presented by Chamber Music New Zealand and in the UK with the Scottish Ensemble. She has appeared as a guest artist with NZTrio, and performed alongside such acclaimed artists as Clarice Assad, Iva Bittova, Brian Connelly, Kyung Sun Lee, Jon Kimura Parker, and Evan Ziporyn. A prizewinner at the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition and the 2012 Klein International Strings Competition, Natalie has appeared as soloist with the New Zealand Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, Master’s Sinfonia (California), and Erie Philharmonic (Pennsylvania). A Britten-Pears Young Artist from 2011-13, Natalie was concertmaster of the 2013 Britten-Pears Orchestra and a member of the conductorless Aldeburgh Strings. She has been featured on Houston Public Media, Radio New Zealand, and Cleveland’s WCLV, as well as in the Houston Chronicle, Arts+Culture Texas, Houstonia Magazine, Houston CityBook, and New Zealand Women’s Weekly. An adventurous program curator and an advocate for the under-performed repertoire both old and new, Natalie has championed the string works of such composers as Karim Al-Zand (b. 1970), Gabriela Lena Frank (b. 1972), and Zoltán Székely (1903-2001). Her current projects include recording under-performed violin duo repertoire, and commissioning new works for violin and percussion ensemble.

A dedicated educator, Natalie is an Associate Professor of Music at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where teaches chamber music and violin, and coordinates and advises for the Emerson/Harris Program for Private Study. Previously, she served as Teaching Assistant to renowned violin pedagogue Paul Kantor at both the Aspen Music Festival and the Cleveland Institute of Music, and taught courses in Music Theory for Non Majors at Rice University. She has given masterclasses and guest lectures at Gordon College, Hong Kong Baptist University, Credo Music Festival, Youngstown State University, and MIT’s Concourse. With Kinetic, she has led numerous educational initiatives for middle school, high school, and undergraduate students, including composition workshops, side-by-side performances, and open rehearsal demonstrations.

Natalie completed her Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, under the mentorship of Paul Kantor and Karim Al-Zand, where she was the recipient of the Lodieska Stockbridge Vaughn Fellowship, the Sviatoslav Richter Fund for Music Outreach, and the Mary Hobson Teaching Fellowship. Her areas of focus included the string works of Benjamin Britten and Leonard Bernstein, and her doctoral dissertation is titled, “Eclecticism, Evolution, and Return in Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp, and Percussion.” Natalie received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Natalie lives in Medford, MA with her husband, architect Tucker Douglas and their son, Ezra.


(Updated 2024)



Performance Calendar

2024-2025



October 4, 2024
Kinetic Ensemble: Traditions Reimagined
Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
More Info


December 6, 2024
Dedication Ceremony and Concert
Linde Music Building, MIT
Private Event


December 15, 2024
String Quintets of George Onslow
University of Notre Dame
More Info

January 31, 2025
New Music for Violin and Percussion with Dr. Brady Spitz
Rosen Concert Hall, Appalachia State University
More Info


February 15, 2025
Linde Music Building Open House
Linde Music Building, MIT
More Info


February 22, 2025
Kinetic in Residence at MIT
Linde Music Building, MIT
More Info


March 7, 2025
MIT Symphony Orchestra: Elena Ruehr's Second Violin Concerto
Kresge Auditorium, MIT
More Info


May 23, 2025
Kinetic Ensemble: Deep-Rooted
Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
More Info


(Updated Sep 2024. View past events.)



Recent Projects

Kinetic by Kinetic Ensemble


Release Date: November 3, 2023

The “agile virtuosity and vibrant sound” (Arts and Culture Texas) of the Houston based Kinetic Ensemble showcases world premiere recordings of works by four exciting young composers: Patrick Harlin, Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn, and Daniel Temkin. A deeply immersive listening experience, the album explores the deep-rooted connections between musical sound and the natural world. Produced and engineered by GRAMMY® award winner Brad Sayles, this debut sets Kinetic’s “thoughtful, incisive programming” and “brilliantly executed” performance on display.

Order your Copy



Kinetic



Select Performance Videos


Gabriela Lena Frank: Suite Mestiza for Solo Violin


Performed in April 2021

Kresge Auditorium, MIT


Beethoven: Grosse Fuge (String Orchestra Version)


Performed in May 2018

Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston

with Kinetic


Solitary Dialogues: Virtual Faculty Recital


Performed in April 2021

Kresge Auditorium, MIT

Program:
Karim Al-Zand: Capriccio, “As quickly as possible” (2002)
Giancarlo Latta: A Simple Song for two violins (2021)
Gabriela Lena Frank: Suite Mestiza (2017)
Johann Sebastian Bach: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin (1720)




Select Press


"The Amazon Inspires New Music at MIT"
MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology | March 2023

"Kinetic Season 8: Distinct Voices, New Works, and Wild Soundscapes"
Arts+Culture Texas Magazine | October 2022

"Orchid Classics Releases "String Theory," a New Recording of Works by Pierre Jalbert"
Schott/EAM News | September 2021

"MIT SHASS Welcomes New Faculty"
MIT "Said and Done" | September 2020

"Kinetic Celebrates 5 Years as Houston's Indie, Conductorless Orchestra"
Houston Public Media | January 2020

“My Top 5: Violinist & Kinetic Founder Natalie Lin”
365 Things To Do In Houston | January 2018

“KINETIC Is Here To Stay”
Houstonia | January 2018

“Hear and Now”
Houston CityBook | May 2017

“For The Love Of Conductorless"
Houston Public Media | October 2017

“Leader of the Pack: Violinist to Helm Conductorless Group”
Houston Chronicle | October 2015

“Auckland violinist stunned to reach world semifinals”
New Zealand Herald | June 2013


Select Discography


Kinetic by Kinetic Ensemble
2023, Bright Shiny Things

Daniel Knaggs: Two Streams
with Kinetic Ensemble
2023, Capella Records

Karim Al-Zand: The Leader and Other Works
as chamber music artist
2022, Navona Records

Pierre Jalbert: String Theory"
with Kinetic Ensemble
2021, Orchid Classics

Studies in Nature: New Music by Karim Al-Zand
with Kinetic Ensemble, and as chamber music artist
2018, Centaur Records

Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings
with Aldeburgh Strings
2016, Linn Records


Affiliations


Kinetic Ensemble
Founder & Artistic Director

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Associate Professor, Music and Theater Arts


Contact Info


General Inquiries: lindoug@mit.edu
Kinetic Ensemble: natalie@kineticensemble.org


Interested in supporting my work or an upcoming project? Please get in touch!

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