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 and recipient of Denmark’s prestigious Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, 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. Together, the Moldovan-born duo explores an uncommon pairing of violin and accordion, revealing new colors in familiar works.
Inspire your little one’s love for classical music as Frisson returns to Newport in a free, outdoor, family-friendly concert perfect for kids and adults alike. This fun and interactive hour features a playful retelling of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev, alongside popular favorites including Gershwin’s Summertime, The Pink Panther, selections from Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha and Maple Leaf Rag, as well as excerpts from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Pirates of the Caribbean. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy this program in a casual, laid-back setting. Come early to explore the instrument petting zoo and experience an afternoon of joyful music-making at the YMCA.
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. From the shimmering beauty of Recuerdos de la Alhambra to the fiery rhythms of Brazil and Argentina, this vibrant program showcases the guitar's remarkable ability to sing, dance, and tell stories across cultures.
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, and performs regularly with ensembles such as the International Contemporary Ensemble, The Knights, and the American Symphony Orchestra. She is joined by harpist Kristi Shade, Principal Harpist of the Chamber Orchestra of New York, whose career spans orchestral, chamber, Broadway, and contemporary performance. A sought-after collaborator, Shade has appeared with artists ranging from Andrea Bocelli and John Legend to Florence + The Machine, while championing new music through acclaimed chamber ensembles and commissions. Together, they create an intimate and richly textured dialogue between two of the most coloristic instruments in the chamber repertoire.
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.
Trio Azura is quickly emerging as one of today’s most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone). Having won the Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice Prize, and Horszowski Trio Prize at the 51st Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2024, the trio is rapidly establishing itself on major concert stages across the United States and beyond. 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.
Winner of the 2025 American Piano Awards, Michael Leonardo Davidman is among the most distinguished young pianists in the nation. Praised for playing with “thunderous authority and loads of interpretive nuance” (Upstage), he has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and has performed at renowned venues across the United States and Europe. He is a recipient of numerous top honors, including prizes at the Long-Thibaud Competition and the Juilliard Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. 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).
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, is celebrated for his commanding presence and “astonishing maturity,” described by The Millbrook Independent as that of “a star cellist who has risen beyond hopeful promise,” with appearances alongside leading orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, and Dallas Symphony. He is joined by pianist Elliot Wuu, a 2018 Gilmore Young Artist and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant winner, recognized for his “power, speed and finesse,” hailed by Tribune Star as comparable to “artists twice his age,” with appearances at Carnegie Hall and leading international festivals.
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. A recent Juilliard graduate, Guo has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Wigmore Hall, and made recent solo debuts at the Kennedy Center and Merkin Hall. Gramophone declared that as both pianist and singer, Chelsea Guo “is clearly a special talent.” 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.
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.
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. Fueled by their passion for storytelling, Invoke weaves these styles together in their program American Voices, reflecting on the 250th Anniversary of the United States, featuring some of this nation’s most influential musical figures including William Still Grant, Florence Price, Duke Ellington, and more, alongside original works composed by and for the group.
Trio Azura is quickly emerging as one of today’s most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone). Having won the Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice Prize, and Horszowski Trio Prize at the 51st Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2024, the trio is rapidly establishing itself on major concert stages across the United States and beyond. 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.
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. From the soulful lyricism of William Grant Still and the Latin groove of Bad Bunny to the infectious swing of Billy Strayhorn and the driving energy of Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, An American Patchwork brings America’s multitude of rich soundscapes all together on one stage.
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, is celebrated for his commanding presence and “astonishing maturity,” described by The Millbrook Independent as that of “a star cellist who has risen beyond hopeful promise,” with appearances alongside leading orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, and Dallas Symphony. He is joined by pianist Elliot Wuu, a 2018 Gilmore Young Artist and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant winner, recognized for his “power, speed and finesse,” hailed by Tribune Star as comparable to “artists twice his age,” with appearances at Carnegie Hall and leading international festivals.
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 and recipient of Denmark’s prestigious Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, 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. Together, the Moldovan-born duo explores an uncommon pairing of violin and accordion, revealing new colors in familiar works.
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. She is also a committed collaborator and mentor, and currently serves as Artist in Residence with the Chicago Philharmonic.
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. A recent Juilliard graduate, Guo has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Wigmore Hall, and made recent solo debuts at the Kennedy Center and Merkin Hall. Gramophone declared that as both pianist and singer, Chelsea Guo “is clearly a special talent.” 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.
