Newport Classical offers holiday concerts for the whole family
With the changing of the seasons, the Newport Classical team remains active, committed to year-round concert programming in addition to in-school music engagement activities. Earlier this month, the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet wowed audiences with a beautiful and dynamic program at the Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church. Earlier in the day, they inspired dozens of students at Pell Elementary, introducing them to classical music through the power of the string quartet! If you haven’t had a chance to catch one of the Chamber Series concerts this fall, the series will pick up again on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, as we welcome Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez.
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is already here, with Thanksgiving just around the corner. As families come together, there is no better way to celebrate the season and community than through the power of music. This December, we are excited to offer two classical holiday programs, both fun for the whole family!
On Sunday, Dec. 4, Messiah at the Mansion returns to Rosecliff after its inaugural sold-out performances last winter. This one-hour production features the return of the Professional Choristers of The Choir School of Newport County, under the direction of Peter Berton, with soloists, adult choir, and musicians from Rhode Island’s fast-rising Ensemble Altera, under the direction of internationally celebrated countertenor Christopher Lowrey.
Each of the two performances of Handel’s famous oratorio Messiah, held at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., will feature Part One and the Hallelujah Chorus - one of the most famous pieces of Baroque choral music, and by far the most widely known section of the work. Said one patron who attended last year’s performance, “I was in complete amazement! Such a wonderful concert.” And with several attendees remarking “a wonderful event which should become an annual celebration of the season,” we are thrilled to deliver on this request and make this a recurring can’t-miss event!
On Saturday, Dec. 10 we are proud to partner with Emmanuel Church on Classical Christmas at Emmanuel: A Community Celebration. This concert features a myriad of Classical Christmas repertoire for piano, organ, trumpet, and choir and many opportunities for the audience to sing-a-long. Emmanuel Church’s Director of Music Randy Elkins will direct the afternoon concert in addition to performing on the organ and directing the Choir. Prior to joining the Newport community in 2021, he was in a similar position for seven years at Virginia-Highland Church (UCC) in Atlanta where he also served as House Organist at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for three years and was a staff organist at both the Plaza and Strand Theatres, and Chapel Organist at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Randy is joined by classical pianist and President of Newport Classical’s Board of Directors Suzanna Laramee. Suzanna recently returned from Fort Worth, TX where she was a semifinalist in the Eighth The Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition! She has also won prizes in several amateur competitions including Paris, Boston, Salt Lake City, and Washington, D.C.
Newport’s own Kelly sisters, Meaghan Kelly Brower, Alison Kelly Hosford and Kate Kelly Longo, come together for the first time in years as featured vocalists, along with trumpeter Lucas Swanson. This one-hour performance will combine musical excellence with feel-good cheer, inviting the audience to join in on familiar holiday favorites such as "Silent Night," "Joy to the World" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." This community-centered performance is followed by a reception, generously hosted by the parishioners of Emmanuel Church and all are invited!
Tickets for Messiah at the Mansion start at $60 and Classical Christmas start at $30. Both are available for purchase at newportclassical.org/concerts. Proof of vaccination is required for all those in attendance, and masks are recommended but not required.
Gillian Friedman Fox is the executive director of Newport Classical. Their column appears monthly in The Daily News and on newportri.com.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Classical offers holiday concerts for the whole family
