Inspired by Folk - music from around the world for violin and piano

Join the Newport String Project for a musical voyage around the world! Travelling from America to China to Europe, this concert will feature chamber music for violin and piano, by composers who have been inspired and influenced by folk music. The program includes works by Coleridge-Taylor, Ward, Wang, Bartok and de Falla. Newport String Project directors and violinists, EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks and Ealain McMullin will be joined for this special program by guest artists Lisa Barksdale, violin and Jeff Louie, piano.

The concert will take place at Ochre Court, Salve Regina University on February 7th. Join us for Tune In! at 6:45pm and Performance begins at 7:30pm.

Admission is by donation.

(Passports/suitcases not required!)

Highlights from Serenade

              

Many thanks to Jack Renner for these images!

Serenade - String trios by Beethoven, Schubert and Kodaly

The Newport String Project invites you to our first concert of 2015!

On Sunday January 25th, we will be setting up our music stands in the beautiful Hawes room at Trinity Church for "Serenade", a program of perennial favorites and hidden gems for string trio by Beethoven, Schubert and Kodaly. We are delighted to be joined by returning guest artists Annalisa Boerner, viola and Heath Marlow, cello.

Join us for Tune In! at 3.15pm and Performance begins at 4pm.

Admission is by donation.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Coming Soon - Kaleidoscope

The Newport String Project is delighted to announce details of the second concert of its season. On December 13^th, the project presents “Kaleidoscope” an evening of 20^th and 21^st century music for strings, percussion and electronics. The concert will take place at Empire Tea and Coffee, 22 Broadway, Newport.

Newport String Project directors and resident violinists, Ealain McMullin and EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks will be joined by guest artists Lauren Latessa, cello and Piero Guimaraes, percussion. The concert will feature dynamic, colorful and inventive works by Honstein, Prokofiev, Ravel, and Volness.

The evening begins at 6.45pm with “Tune In!” a pre-concert conversation with the musicians sharing insights into the process behind the music. Performance begins at 7.30pm.

Admission is by donation – all welcome.

Program

ROBERT HONSTEIN - Patter

MAURICE RAVEL - Sonata for Violin and Cello

KIRSTEN VOLNESS - Etoiles de Mer for cello, percussion and stereo sound

SERGEI PROKOFIEV - Sonata for Two Violins

A season of gratitude and giving

 

“Like a tree, I’m standing tall...” is the opening line of a poem that is very familiar to the violin and viola students of the Newport String Project. It invites the students to stand with steadiness, flexibility and pride as they hold and play their instruments. It also serves as a gentle reminder about the importance of noticing the ground beneath your feet and finding your roots.

This idea has special relevance for us in the second season of the Newport String Project. This year, our focus turns towards strengthening the roots laid during the pilot year, as well as peeking skywards and trying new things.

At this time of year, we feel especially thankful for all the community support that has enabled the project to become more than a “seedling”. In that spirit, we would like to share some of the highlights of our second season so far…

Nurturing the spark

This fall, we are delighted to have expanded our educational programming at the MLK Center, almost doubling student enrollment. In addition to their twice weekly group lessons, our 14 continuing students (ages 5-10) now receive weekly individual lessons. While the group classes offer the rewards of being part of an ensemble, we have also noticed the eager anticipation with which the students ask, “Do I have my lesson today?” This one-to-one environment creates a unique space for each student to thrive.

And the community of student musicians is growing! Since October, thirteen new students (K and 1^st graders) participate in a weekly group class called Music in Motion. Through storytelling, singing and movement games, the students are learning crucial fundamentals that will prepare them to participate in Paper Orchestra in January.

Building community connections

Our students recently brought their music-making into the community, performing as the opening act at “Roll Up the Rug”, a family dance workshop, presented in partnership with Common Fence Music. This high-energy event, featuring the Rusty Pickup String Band, drew an enthusiastic audience from all across Newport county for an afternoon of fiddling, dance and laughter. With more family workshops in store, we look forward to strengthening the connections between families throughout the community.

Enriching the concert experience

Launching with a memorable concert of quartets by Haydn and Beethoven, our concert season is off to a wonderful start and we look forward to bringing seven more inspiring concerts to Newport audiences. New this year is our “Tune In!” series of pre-concert events, enabling the audience to learn about the background and process behind the music, and to connect with our exceptional guest artists.

As the program continues to deepen its roots, your support will enable the Newport String Project to grow stronger and stand taller. We hope that you will consider including the project in your annual giving, as we continue in our mission to enrich community life in Newport through access to inspiring musical experiences for all.

With gratitude,

EmmaLee and Ealain

Newport String Project Directors

For further information on ways to donate, please click HERE.

Duo of Versatile Violinists Feature in Newport This Week

We are delighted to share this article about the Newport String Project from Newport This Week by Mark Gorman. http://www.newportthisweek.com/news/2014-11-20/Around_Town/Duo_of_Versatile_Violinists.html

Highlights from the Rusty Pick Up String Band Residency

November was a busy month for us here at the Newport String Project! In collaboration with Common Fence Music, the Newport String Project hosted "Roll Up the Rug - an old time family dance workshop" presented by the Rusty Pick Up String Band.

To kick-off the fiddling proceedings, the young violin and viola students of the Newport String Project gave a rousing rendition of the Chicken Reel.

       

It was a proud moment for the young musicians - made all the sweeter for their teachers by the discovery of this anonymous note after the event was over! (We have it on good authority that the viola students are equally as proud!)

This was followed by a fabulously energetic workshop of foot-stompin', toe-tappin', handclappin' fun, led by master caller Jim Hicks, with music by Newport String Project director EmmaLee on violin, the endlessly energetic Peggy Holmes on keyboard and Common Fence's own Tom Perrotti on guitar.

And for some footage of the fancy footwork, click here to watch perennial favorite Seven Jumps!

If you missed the workshop this time around, fear not - the Rustys will be back on February 15th for another Community Dance at Emmanuel!

Snapshot from the classroom

We are delighted to have expanded our educational programming to include weekly individual lessons for this year's continuing students. This one-to-one lesson is a special time, when each student can shape their learning, focusing on what is inspiring to them and fully realize their strengths. And while our students love their individual lessons, learning together brings a lot of joy. Here is where friendships are deepened and the classroom community is strengthened. Group learning is at the core of the famed Venezuelan music education system, El Sistema. One of the values El Sistema students learn from the beginning is that "As soon as you have learned something, it is your responsibility to teach it to someone else." This practice of peer mentoring is one that takes many years to build but creates a deep sense of community among the students and is a reminder that music is an oral tradition.

The practice of peer mentoring is something we hope to instill in the students of the Newport String Project. In these clips, two of our students practice the skill through role play - taking turns being the teacher and the student. As you can see, while learning how to hold the bow is a serious and sophisticated business, there is still plenty of room for fun!

Part I

http://youtu.be/3R9hOdSUT5I

Part II

http://youtu.be/AhadGZEtuNc

Roll Up the Rug, Old Time Family Dance Workshop

Come join us for a trip back to pioneer days. We’ll recreate the old-fashioned barn dance with the authentic hoedowns, reels, square dances and games that the early American settlers enjoyed. Young and not-so-young, families and singles, everyone is invited. The Rusty Pickup String Band will provide the toe-tapping tunes and an experienced dance “caller” will teach you everything you need to know. It’s contagious fun that few can resist.

 

Common Fence Music Hall

933 Anthony Road, Portsmouth, RI

November 22, 2 – 4 pm

For more information call 309-256-0043

 

Brought to you Free of Charge 

by Common Fence Music and the Newport String Project 

as part of this season's Horn of Plenty Music.

Scenes from our opening concert

It was a rainy evening but a perfect one to head inside to listen to some chamber music. We were delighted to launch our "Tune In!" series with a pre-concert talk by guest artist Jesse Holstein. The event created a wonderful connection ahead of the performance which was a festive and optimistic launch of our second season!         

Many thanks to Melanie Saunders for these images.

From Farm to the Grocery Store

Fresh from our retreat at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, EmmaLee and I made a pop-up appearance at A Market on Bellevue Avenue to play some violin duos ahead of our performance at Emmanuel. Amidst the fresh greens and pumpkins, we shared duos by Bach, Bartok, Leclair and a few fun fiddling treats.

Many thanks to the staff at A Market and the cheerful customers who chatted with us on our visit! Keep your eyes peeled for stealthy Newport String Project pop-up appearances! Got an idea for a fun surprising place for a pop-up concert? Get in touch!  

(Thanks to our friend from Common Fence Music Tom Perrotti for this shot! Check out the wonderful work of Common Fence Music here.)

- Ealain

Avaloch Days

Ahead of our second season concert opener, EmmaLee, Jesse, Heath and I had the blissful opportunity to "retreat" to New Hampshire to the beautiful setting of Avaloch Farm Music Institute. Surrounded by the fall foliage in extravagant form, we found ourselves in the perfect place to explore the Haydn and the Beethoven together. With the busyness of day-to-day Newport String Project life temporarily on hold, we were ready to dig in to the process. Rehearsals featured nitty gritty decision making ("how about a down bow there?" "can we take a little time there?"), tried and trusted rehearsal techniques (rehearsing with backs to each other) and the occasional dramatic reading of Heath's notes from his Beethoven Quartet Seminar at Rice.

Rehearsal breaks often featured trips to the bottomless cookie jar (thanks Diane!), sunset canoeing and bonding with four-legged friends.

Heath and Emmy resolving rehearsal differences

Jesse meets Jessie

Posing with our muse Snoozer

Of course, few things will energize an appetite more than rehearsing string quartets. Happily, there was no need for alarm as Avaloch's culinary maestro-in-residence Will took wonderful care of us all. Mealtimes were a highlight, not only for the food, but as a chance to connect with our colleagues from the other visiting chamber groups - the Diderot Quartet and the Meadowlark Piano Trio. In that shared experience of focused rehearsal, an easy and natural sense of camaraderie evolved. On the final night of our stay, each of the groups performed for an intimate audience of guests at Avaloch. From movements of Haydn and Mozart exquisitely performed on period instruments by the Diderot Quartet to a memorized performance of Ravel Piano Trio by the Meadowlark to the epic journey of op. 130, it was quite an evening and inspiration to treasure!

A heartfelt thanks to Fred, Deb, Will, Diane and all the staff at Avaloch for their work in bringing this special place to life...

-Ealain

Introducing October's Guest Artists

Jesse Holstein, violin and viola

Jesse Holstein, violinist and violist, is a founding member of the Providence String Quartet, and has been a resident musician at Community MusicWorks since 2001. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, he completed his graduate studies with James Buswell at the New England Conservatory. He is an active recitalist, orchestral, and chamber musician, and serves as concertmaster of the New Bedford Symphony. In 2003, Jesse was invited to join the faculty of the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music. He has performed as a guest artist at the Montana Chamber Music Festival and Bay Chamber Concerts. In 2009, he performed the Brahms Double Concerto (with PSQ cellist Sara Stalnaker) with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra.

Heath Marlow, cello

Heath Marlow is the director of the Sistema Fellowship Resource Center at the New England Conservatory. Heath came to the Conservatory in 2012 after spending more than a decade associated with Community MusicWorks, a nationally recognized organization that builds transformative relationships between professional musicians, children, and families in Providence’s urban neighborhoods.

A Massachusetts native, Heath received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Shepherd School at Rice University, was a three-time fellowship recipient at the Tanglewood Music Center, and did graduate studies in cello performance at Boston University. A chamber music enthusiast, he has enjoyed many summers of making music in beautiful locations, including the Berkshires, Banff, Alberta and Blue Hill, Maine.

Coming Soon - Opening Concert!

The Newport String Project is delighted to present the opening concert of its second season! We welcome back violist Jesse Holstein and cellist Heath Marlow as guest artists for a program of string quartets from youthful Haydn (op 1 no 1 “La Chasse”) and trailblazer-to-the-end Beethoven (op 130).

The concert will take place at Emmanuel Church on Saturday October 4^th. Performance starts at 7.30pm – however, early birds will be richly rewarded!

At 6.30pm, we will have our very first Tune In! event - guest artist Jesse Holstein present a talk taking us on a auditory adventure through these quartets, highlighting the not-to-be-missed sonic landmarks and sharing a few anecdotes about the lives and times of the composers. Light refreshments will be served. This will be the first of our new Tune In! series, aimed at inviting our audiences to engage more deeply with the Newport String Project concerts.  Details of each Tune In! event will be announced alongside the upcoming concert information.

All are welcome. Admission is by donation – all donations directly support our performing and educational programming. Community support is vital to sustaining the project. Donations are fully tax deductible.

Bring all your friends and help us celebrate the launch of our second season! We look forward to seeing you there!

Concert Details

The Newport String Project Season Opener

Beethoven and Haydn

October 4^th 2014

6.30pm Tune In! Pre-concert conversation with guest artist Jesse Holstein.

Light refreshments will be served.

7.30pm Performance

Emmanuel Church

42 Dearborn St,

Newport RI 02840

All welcome. Admission by donation – please make a donation at the door, by mail or online!

Season Finale Concert this Weekend!

Join us for a fabulously festive and vibrant program of chamber music at Trinity Church on May 24th at 3.30pm. The concert will be a celebration of the Newport String Project's inaugural year and will look ahead to what's in store for the project next year.

We are delighted to announce that this concert will bring together past and current fellows from Community MusicWorks (Providence) - young professional musicians who are at the leading edge of a field that explores the intersection between artistry, teaching and community.

PROGRAM Bacewicz Quartetto for Four Violins (1949) Ealain McMullin, EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, Shawn le Sure (CMW Fellow '15), Rhiannon Banerdt (CMW Fellow '15), violins

Beethoven String Quartet op 59 no 1 in F Major EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, Ealain McMullin, violins Annalisa Boerner (CMW Fellow '14), viola Lauren Latessa (CMW Fellow '14) cello

*Reception to follow*

Admission is free - Donations will be accepted at the door.

If you have attended our concerts this year, we look forward to seeing you again and hope you'll bring some new friends with you! If this will be your first Newport String Project concert, that is great news too!

Musical flights to the Norman Bird Sanctuary on March 29th

We are delighted to announce details of our next concert at the Norman Bird Sanctuary on March 29th at 7.30pm. (Did you catch the recent NY Times article on the farmhouse at the sanctuary?) Joined by superb guest harpsichordist Paul Cienniwa, EmmaLee and Ealaín will be performing sonatas by Corelli and Bach as well as a few contemporary pieces. It promises to be a delectable evening of chamber music and dessert in front of a roaring fire at Mabel's Studio.

Guest Artist Paul Cienniwa

Tickets are $15 for Norman Bird Sanctuary members and $20 for non-members. All proceeds will go to support the mission of the Newport String Project and the Norman Bird Sanctuay.

It is sure to fill up early so register early and spread the word!  Click here to register for tickets.

March Musician Spotlight - Aaron Jackson, piano

We are very much looking forward to this weekend's concert at Channing Memorial Church and delighted to be joined by Providence-based pianist composer, Aaron Jackson.

Composer and pianist Aaron Jackson offers programs that combine his original compositions and improvisations with selections from the classical repertoire, with an emphasis on music from the 20th century.  His 2012-2013 season featured works by Beethoven, Brahms and Bacewicz; Liszt, Janacek and Dvorak; Babbitt, Lieberson, and Shifrin; Scriabin, Copland and Rautavaara; all in programs that also featured his own music, including the premiere of his Piano Sonata. Recent collaborations include Chroma for jazz trumpeter Ben Holmes; a Trio for  violin, cello, and piano, with musicians Chase Spruill and Adrienne Taylor from Providence’s Community Music Works; and a set of 24 preludes for piano created in conjunction with a corresponding series of paintings by his wife, artist Prachie Narain Jackson, called The Book of Wandering.

Aaron grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where he discovered the music of local composer Milton Babbitt.  At age 15 he performed several Babbitt pieces at a solo recital of contemporary piano music, which was subsequently repeated at the Juilliard School in New York. Babbitt became a friend and mentor, encouraging Aaron to supplement his studies at Juilliard by working with pianist Robert Taub, who was then artist-in-residence at the Institute of Advanced Study; and to attend Princeton University, where he studied philosophy and music. He went on to study music theory and composition at Columbia University, where he met and became a student of pianist Marilyn Nonken.

More information is available at his website, AaronJacksonMusic.com

March Musician Spotlight - Megan Koch, cello

We are delighted to be joined for this Saturday's concert at Channing Memorial Church by cellist Megan Koch. Below is a lightning round interview with Megan and you can also read her complete bio over on our guest artist page.

Can you tell us a little bit about your earliest days playing the cello?

I started cello when I was 4 years old.  I don't remember too much from then... but I'm sure it involved a lot of Twinkles!  One of my favorite pictures that I have from back then is a picture of me holding my cello next to a Rubbermaid stool that served as my chair.

How did you know that you wanted to pursue cello professionally?

I didn't know until I was a junior in high school that I really wanted to pursue cello as a profession.  Cello was always a big part of my life, but I think the turning point was an opportunity that I had to play in a masterclass for Yo-Yo Ma.  It was a great experience to play for someone I idolized, and he was so inspiring, friendly and down to earth.  It made me want to continue to learn and share music in a meaningful way.

I know that you are an avid chamber musician - is there a piece of chamber music that you haven't played yet that would be on your dream list?

That's a tough question.  I've performed a lot of chamber music but there's still a lot to get to!  I think Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 would be a top contender on my dream list.

Can you share any insights into the music on this weekend's concert? What can our audience look forward to?

I've really enjoyed working on these two pieces with Aaron, Ealain, and Emmy.  Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 1 No. 1 is an early piece of his, and while at first it seemed pretty straight forward, it's been really interesting to delve further into it, and discover all the many nuances of the work.  The scherzo was a movement not common in piano trio repertoire at this time, and yet Beethoven added it here in his first published works.  The Bagatelles is a fun piece... listen for melodic material from the first movement to reappear throughout the composition.

What do you find is the biggest challenge in teaching music? The biggest reward?

My biggest challenge in teaching music is having kids see the big picture of hard work paying off.  The biggest reward is seeing kids get excited about music.

Is there anything that you weren't taught by your music teachers but that you try to pass along to your own students?

That's a hard one.  I've had amazing teachers and they've helped shape who I am as both a person and a musician.  One thing though that I've learned as I've gone along and would like to share with my students, is to find what makes you unique and special as a musician!

Beethoven and Dvorak at Channing Memorial Church

This Saturday March 8th at 7pm, the Newport String Project presents a concert featuring music by Beethoven and Dvorak at Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham St, Newport RI 02840. We are delighted to be joined by two superb guest artists, Megan Koch, cello and Aaron Jackson, piano.

For composers, choosing the work that will be your opus 1 is a very significant decision. You will have the opportunity to hear Beethoven's remarkably forward thinking Piano Trio op 1 no 1.

We will also be taking a jaunt through the sunny Bohemian countryside courtesy of Antonin Dvorak. His Malickosti (Bagatelles) op. 47 were written in the first twelve days of May 1878 for two violins, cello and a little foot-pedalled reed organ called a harmonium. The first of the bagatelles features a Czech folksong called Hraly Dudy ("The Pipes are Playing") which returns throughout the piece - you can listen to the original Czech folksong here.

All welcome - bring your friends!

Community Barn Dance comes to Emmanuel Church on March 2nd

Promenade and do-si-do, swing your partner, here we go.

Community Barn Dance ~ Sunday, March 2, 2 pm 

Emmanuel Church

The Newport String Project and Common Fence Music are bringing an old-time barn dance to Newport and everyone is welcome. Learn what country folks did for fun back in the good old days, when families, friends and neighbors set their work aside and gathered to kick up their heels.  These simple old-time dances are fun for all ages.  No partner or experience necessary.

Champion fiddler and co-director of the Newport String Project, EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks and guitarist Tom Perrotti will provide the toe-tappin’ music.  And master caller Jim Hicks is coming all the way from Illinois to teach the dances and make sure everyone has a good time.