Kate Whitley: Announcing A New Chapter For Multi-Story

After starting The Multi-Story Orchestra nearly 15 years ago, I've decided to step down as Artistic Director in early 2026.

This is a huge decision for me. Multi-Story has been a massive part of my life, and I am grateful to have had the chance to do it. I can't imagine who I would be without our incredible musicians, young people and team who have made Multi-Story what it is. Our young people – especially Dupri McKoy, who has become the heart of the organisation since he first sang with us aged 12 – have shown me a better way of being in the world, and the joy of Multi-Story will always be theirs.

I am always moved by Multi-Story's performances. It embodies everything I believe in: creativity, collaboration, community. It has taken many years, but Multi-Story is now at a stage where those values are embedded in the company and what it does.

My goal was always to create and then be able to leave a company that could be sustainable without me. I believe organisations should be about vision and values rather than the power of any individual, and I see the founder being able to leave as a marker of the company's success.

With the support we have had from Arts Council and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we are now at that stage. The Paul Hamlyn Foundation encouraged me to apply for a startup grant when I first began, so it feels fitting that they have now given us funding to support this transition.

I want to leave Multi-Story with the values that have made it incredible over the last 15 years, but I also want it to be responsive to the world now for whoever takes it on. Part of the reason I have always wanted to leave is to make space for other people to be leaders – so that Multi-Story can be more diverse musically and can be somewhere that people from all different backgrounds can be leaders.

I also want to make space to do something different myself: Multi-Story first performance was when I was 22 and I am excited to see what the next chapter will be for me.

The new Artistic Director role will be advertised this Autumn, for someone to start in early 2026. Before then, we are performing The Endz in Gloucester and recording an album of the best songs we have written over recent years.

The last performances I will be involved with in Bold Tendencies' car park space took place this summer – Love In Many Forms, created by Multi-Story with songwriter Dupri McKoy and composer Lewis Daniel. I can't think of a better ending to my own involvement than to enable a piece like that to be made, and I am so excited to leave Multi-Story in a position where it can continue making work that is as powerful, joyous and meaningful in the future.

Kate Whitley