2026 Newport Classical Music Festival

Thank you for making the 2026 Newport Classical Music Festival an extraordinary celebration of music, community, and artistic excellence. Over 18 days, 30 performances transformed 11 of Newport’s most iconic venues into vibrant stages for world-renowned artists, rising stars, and thousands of music lovers from near and far.

We are deeply grateful to our artists, patrons, donors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners whose enthusiasm and support made this remarkable season possible.

Although the Festival has come to a close, the music continues. We invite you to join us for our 2026–27 Chamber Series and look ahead to the 58th Newport Classical Music Festival, taking place July 1–18, 2027. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable summer of extraordinary music in Newport.

For over 57 years, Newport Classical has turned the “City by the Sea” into a summer destination for music lovers. From cliffside lawns to gilded mansions, audiences experience the sights and sounds of Newport like never before. Newport Classical showcases classical music as a living art form, presenting artists and programs that are diverse and ever-evolving in intimate and iconic venues that make every performance one-of-a-kind. Whether you’re discovering a new composer, revisiting a beloved work, or experiencing a timeless piece in a fresh way, the Festival offers a world of music waiting to be experienced.

From Bach and Stravinsky to Bartók, Vivaldi, and Piazzolla, accordionist Radu Ratoi and violinist Alexandra Tirsu bring together music shaped by dance, folklore, and virtuosity. As winner of the 2024 Young Concert Artists “Susan Wadsworth” International Auditions, Ratoi established himself as a pioneer in expanding the accordion’s repertoire. He is joined by internationally acclaimed violinist Alexandra Tirsu, a prizewinner of the 2021 ARD Competition who performs on the 1717 “Reifenberg” Stradivari.
FREE: 1 PM
October 18, 2026
1:00 PM
Who says chamber music must follow a program? Ensemble Mélange puts the audience in the driver's seat for an interactive concert unlike any other. With a menu of more than 30 selections spanning classical favorites, jazz, Latin, Broadway, and beyond, audience members are randomly chosen to select what the ensemble performs next. The result is an engaging, high-energy concert where no two performances are ever the same, offering an exciting musical adventure for concertgoers of all ages.
FREE: 3:30 PM
October 18, 2026
3:30 PM
Who says chamber music must follow a program? Ensemble Mélange puts the audience in the driver's seat for an interactive concert unlike any other. With a menu of more than 30 selections spanning classical favorites, jazz, Latin, Broadway, and beyond, audience members are randomly chosen to select what the ensemble performs next. The result is an engaging, high-energy concert where no two performances are ever the same, offering an exciting musical adventure for concertgoers of all ages.
November 20, 2026
7:30 PM
Hailed as one of the leading classical guitarists of his generation, Raphaël Feuillâtre brings a deeply personal approach to the guitar's most beloved repertoire. In a program titled “Latin Passions,” Feuillâtre explores the rich musical traditions of Spain and Latin America through works by Tárrega, Albéniz, Llobet, Barrios, Lauro, Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla, and Assad.
February 19, 2027
7:30 PM
Blending the shimmering colors of flute and harp, flutist Anna Urrey and harpist Kristi Shade present a program that moves across centuries and styles. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, Urrey has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, and National Sawdust . She is joined by harpist Kristi Shade, Principal Harpist of the Chamber Orchestra of New York. Together, they create an intimate and richly textured dialogue between two of the most coloristic instruments in the chamber repertoire.
FREE: 1 PM
October 18, 2026
1:00 PM
Who says chamber music must follow a program? Ensemble Mélange puts the audience in the driver's seat for an interactive concert unlike any other. With a menu of more than 30 selections spanning classical favorites, jazz, Latin, Broadway, and beyond, audience members are randomly chosen to select what the ensemble performs next. The result is an engaging, high-energy concert where no two performances are ever the same, offering an exciting musical adventure for concertgoers of all ages.
FREE: 3:30 PM
October 18, 2026
3:30 PM
Who says chamber music must follow a program? Ensemble Mélange puts the audience in the driver's seat for an interactive concert unlike any other. With a menu of more than 30 selections spanning classical favorites, jazz, Latin, Broadway, and beyond, audience members are randomly chosen to select what the ensemble performs next. The result is an engaging, high-energy concert where no two performances are ever the same, offering an exciting musical adventure for concertgoers of all ages.
April 23, 2027
7:30 PM
Rubén Rengel, Gabriel Chakarji, and Juan Diego Villalobos come together for an evening celebrating the music of Latin America, from their native Venezuela to the vibrant traditions displayed throughout the region. As versatile performers, the Trio brings to life cherished works alongside original compositions, highlighting both the traditions that shape Latin American music and the performers' unique voice.
October 9, 2026
7:30 PM
Trio Azura is quickly emerging as one of today’s most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone). In a program anchored by Ravel and Mendelssohn’s cornerstone Piano Trios, Trio Azura invites audiences to explore the world of the piano trio across eras, from the Romantic and Impressionist traditions to the contemporary voice of Jennifer Higdon.
November 6, 2026
7:30 PM
Winner of the 2025 American Piano Awards, Michael Leonardo Davidman is among the most distinguished young pianists in the nation. For his Newport Debut, Davidman brings a program spanning Bach, Schubert, Liszt, and Franck to the Recital Hall for an evening featuring his signature “chiseled and fiery playing” (Pianiste Magazine, Paris).
January 29, 2027
7:30 PM
Tracing the evolution of the beloved sonata form, cellist Sterling Elliott and pianist Elliot Wuu bring together works by Ravel, Strauss, and Rachmaninoff. Sterling Elliott, a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence honoree, has been described by The Millbrook Independent as “a star cellist who has risen beyond hopeful promise.” He is joined by pianist Elliot Wuu, a 2018 Gilmore Young Artist and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant winner.
April 9, 2027
7:30 PM
Equally at home at the piano and on the operatic stage, Chelsea Guo is forging a unique path as one of classical music’s most versatile young artists. The first musician ever to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in two disciplines, she brings an uncommon perspective to programs that explore the rich relationship between voice and piano. In a program featuring Chopin, Viradot, Shumann, and Brahms, Guo offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the dual artistry that has made her one of today’s most distinctive emerging musicians.
April 23, 2027
7:30 PM
Rubén Rengel, Gabriel Chakarji, and Juan Diego Villalobos come together for an evening celebrating the music of Latin America, from their native Venezuela to the vibrant traditions displayed throughout the region. As versatile performers, the Trio brings to life cherished works alongside original compositions, highlighting both the traditions that shape Latin American music and the performers' unique voice.
September 18, 2026
7:30 PM
Join us at the Recital Hall as we open our 2026–2027 season with returning favorites Invoke! Described as “...not anything but everything: Classical, Folk, Bluegrass, Americana and a sound yet to be termed seamlessly merged into a perfect one” (David Srebnik, SiriusXM Classical Producer), the multi-instrumental quartet encompasses traditions from across America, including bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, jazz, and minimalism.
October 9, 2026
7:30 PM
Trio Azura is quickly emerging as one of today’s most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone). In a program anchored by Ravel and Mendelssohn’s cornerstone Piano Trios, Trio Azura invites audiences to explore the world of the piano trio across eras, from the Romantic and Impressionist traditions to the contemporary voice of Jennifer Higdon.
October 23, 2026
7:30 PM
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Rasa String Quartet presents a musical patchwork quilt, weaving together the cultural traditions that have shaped the nation’s identity. Spanning jazz, bluegrass, Latin pop, Indigenous traditions, global folk music, and classical favorites, the program captures the vibrant creative spirit of American music.
January 29, 2027
7:30 PM
Tracing the evolution of the beloved sonata form, cellist Sterling Elliott and pianist Elliot Wuu bring together works by Ravel, Strauss, and Rachmaninoff. Sterling Elliott, a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence honoree, has been described by The Millbrook Independent as “a star cellist who has risen beyond hopeful promise.” He is joined by pianist Elliot Wuu, a 2018 Gilmore Young Artist and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant winner.
April 23, 2027
7:30 PM
Rubén Rengel, Gabriel Chakarji, and Juan Diego Villalobos come together for an evening celebrating the music of Latin America, from their native Venezuela to the vibrant traditions displayed throughout the region. As versatile performers, the Trio brings to life cherished works alongside original compositions, highlighting both the traditions that shape Latin American music and the performers' unique voice.
From Bach and Stravinsky to Bartók, Vivaldi, and Piazzolla, accordionist Radu Ratoi and violinist Alexandra Tirsu bring together music shaped by dance, folklore, and virtuosity. As winner of the 2024 Young Concert Artists “Susan Wadsworth” International Auditions, Ratoi established himself as a pioneer in expanding the accordion’s repertoire. He is joined by internationally acclaimed violinist Alexandra Tirsu, a prizewinner of the 2021 ARD Competition who performs on the 1717 “Reifenberg” Stradivari.
Closing the Chamber Series season, violinist Njioma Chinyere Grevious brings her “superb” (Chicago Classical Review) artistry to the Recital Hall for a program featuring Bach, Brahms, Mozart, and more. A Juilliard graduate and founding member of the Abeo Quartet, Grevious appears regularly as a soloist and chamber musician at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Concertgebouw, and performs with orchestras such as the Chicago Philharmonic and Sphinx Virtuosi.
April 9, 2027
7:30 PM
Equally at home at the piano and on the operatic stage, Chelsea Guo is forging a unique path as one of classical music’s most versatile young artists. The first musician ever to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in two disciplines, she brings an uncommon perspective to programs that explore the rich relationship between voice and piano. In a program featuring Chopin, Viradot, Shumann, and Brahms, Guo offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the dual artistry that has made her one of today’s most distinctive emerging musicians.