Garden Concert Series - With Jacob and Ealain

The concert series is back! Well, sort of. On July 1st, Ealain and I launched our garden concert series, the goal being to play for REAL PEOPLE once again and to reprise our connection to the treasured NSP audiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a transition to online performing and teaching, which we have fully embraced as a new challenge and opportunity. While we appreciate the benefits of that medium, we are convinced that there really is no substitute for the live concert experience. 

So we are hitting the road! In July, Ealain and I performed at four different locations, memorably beginning on a rainy front porch in Warren, with the audience sitting in damp lawn chairs carrying umbrellas. How does it work? Ealain and I drive separately to backyards, porches, and walkways around Newport and the surrounding communities, bringing with us the various stands, binders, advertising, and cheerful attitudes that are needed! We perform a diverse selection of duos ranging from the standard Bach and Mozart repertoire to exciting new pieces by Jessie Montgomery and beyond. In typical NSP style, we provide a running commentary in between pieces about the notable aspects of the music and what our collective new reality has meant for the program. In an intimate setting, these monologues generally evolve into an informal back-and-forth with anyone more than free to chime in.

So far, the garden concerts have ranged in size from five to thirty people, all socially-distanced outdoors and wearing masks. We are equally thrilled to perform for just one person as we would be for one hundred. Simplicity and safety are key! If you would like to host one of these events, please consult our website and get in touch: http://www.newportstringproject.org/garden-concert-series

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate through these unusual times! We are excited to take our music to you for a change, and hopefully spread around some much-needed joy and comfort. See you soon!