The Newport String Project is a chamber music performance and youth mentoring initiative that aims to build a community that crosses boundaries of generation, heritage, and economic circumstances through access to inspiring musical experiences for all. The project strengthens the social and cultural fabric of the Newport community by offering students free use of instruments, free weekly lessons and group activities, as well as a concert series in venues throughout Newport that features its resident ensemble, the Newport String Quartet.
Ealaín McMullin - co-founder, artistic director, Violinist
Inspired by the opportunity to blend chamber music with education and community building, Ealaín co-founded the Newport String Project in 2012. Ealaín was first introduced to chamber music though concerts given by the Apple Hill Chamber Players near her home in Donegal, Ireland. This led to many happy summers studying at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in New Hampshire and since 2014, Ealaín has served on the faculty at Apple Hill’s summer festival. She studied at the Boston Conservatory, where she was a member of the Bricolage String Quartet, the Conservatory’s honors ensemble. She has performed with members of the Apple Hill, Brooklyn Rider, Lydian and Miro String Quartets and has performed at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival (Ireland) and Music From Salem (New York). A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and the Boston Conservatory, Ealaín’s teachers have included Michael D’Arcy, Elise Kuder, Mike Kelley and Lenny Matczynski.
Jacob MacKay - Resident Musician, Cellist
Jacob MacKay is the Resident Cellist and Education Coordinator at the Newport String Project. As an educator, he has served on the faculty of the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, Worcester Chamber Music Society’s Neighborhood Strings, Salve Regina University, St. George’s School, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School. As a performer, he collaborated with the Silk Road Ensemble, and has been featured on concert series around the world including Classical Impromptu in Key West and the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.
Jacob graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University in 2016 with degrees in Environmental Studies and Cello Performance. He was awarded a Leonard Bernstein Fellowship, and was a recipient of the Coffey Award for “excellence in the performance of music” and the Fisher Prize for “extraordinary achievement in the creative arts.” In 2019, Jacob received a master’s degree in Cello Performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He is currently a member of the New Bedford Symphony and performs regularly with the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Jacob is a lover of dogs, kayaking, lazy Susans, primates, and chairs.
Kenneth Trotter - Resident Musician, Violinist
'Kenneth Trotter is a violinist from Knoxville, Tennessee. Before joining the Newport String Quartet, he had a varied freelance career in the New York City area and was a founding member of the Puck Quartet, which had a particular focus on audience & community engagement, working with living composers, and interactive performances. He has participated in the Carnegie Hall Audience Engagement Intensive, the St. Lawrence Quartet Emerging String Quartet Program, and the Decoda | Chamber Music Institute. Kenneth was a founding member and fiddle player of folk-foursome Elijah and the Moon, and has recorded and performed live with such diverse artists as R&B/disco legend Patrick Adams, Japanese rapper Lotus Juice, and singer-songwriter Mitski. He holds a Bachelor's in Music from SUNY Purchase where he studied with Carmit Zori and Laurie Smukler.'
Santiago Vazquez-Loredo - Resident Musician, Violist
A native of Hickory, North Carolina, violist Santiago Vazquez-Loredo has appeared at festivals such as the Four Season Chamber Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, and has performed with ensembles such as the Minnesota Orchestra, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra.
As a member of the Tavola String Quartet, Santiago was part of the esteemed NEC Honors Ensemble in 2021. Furthermore, he has performed chamber music alongside distinguished musicians such as Catherine Cho, Ara Gregorian, Hye-Jin Kim, Adam Neiman, Marcy Rosen, Steven Tenenbom, and Carmit Zori.
Santiago earned his Bachelor of Music from East Carolina University where he studied with Ara Gregorian and Hye-Jin Kim, and his Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory where he studied with Kim Kashkashian.
Jennifer Cloud - Development Consultant
Jenny Cloud grew up in Jamestown, Rhode Island and couldn’t help returning to her hometown after living in Washington, DC, Boston, and Nashville. For close to 15 years, she taught math to high school students in South Kingstown, until realizing that she needed a change. With a background and degrees in education and public policy (BA from Brown University, M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University, and MPA from University of Michigan), she turned to the nonprofit sector and development, with a special interest in grant writing. Aside from working part-time for NSP, she volunteers at the Potter League and tries not to adopt any more pets.
Shauna Maguire - Administrator
Shauna Maguire grew up in Orange, Connecticut. She has a degree in Physical Education. After college she pursued a career in retail management. She moved to Newport in the late 80’s to raise a family and work in the family marine electronics business.
Shauna Joined Island Moving Company as a volunteer in 2001, leaving this summer as Marketing & Patron Relations Manager. She is thrilled to join the Newport String Project Family! She lives on The Point with her adorable Westie, Beckett James. She is the proud mother of two daughters and grandmother to Warren & Brooks, her Granddarlings.
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks - Co-Founder, Violinist
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks grew up on an organic farm where as a young girl she presented her first violin performances to a very attentive audience—her flock of merino sheep. As that violin grew from quarter- to a full-size, EmmaLee, with that expressive instrument in hand, made her way onto the stage as soloist with symphonies and then on to Carnegie Hall as a member of the Pangea String Quartet. Armed with a performance degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a doctoral degree from SUNY Stony Brook, EmmaLee serves as principal second violinist of the New Bedford Symphony and as a busy chamber player, on stage in venues on the East Coast, as well as the Midwest. She is on faculty at the University of Massachussetts, Dartmouth and the Birch Creek Summer Performance Center.
A firm believer that music can move people, quite literally, EmmaLee takes the lead in string bands across New England and in the Midwest where her lively fiddle music drives the spirited old-time dancing. She has played fiddle with the Rusty Pickup String Band since she was ten years old and she has taken many a championship prize at fiddle competitions.
*EmmaLee stepped down from her position as Newport String Project Director in June 2019
Past resident musicians of the Newport String Project have included Zan Berry, Josie Davis, Jaime Feldman, Ashley Frith, Gillian Gallagher and Emma Powell.
The Newport String Project Board of Directors
Dominique Alfandre, Board President
Marilyn Warren, Treasurer
Heath Marlow, Secretary
Emily Anthony
Cherayne Ashton
Alexandra Brooks
Dr Garry Fischer, MD
Kate Longo
Lenny Matczynski
Arlene J. Nicholas, Ph.D.
Dr. Elizabeth Niemiec, MD