Newport Classical Presents Three Free Community and Children’s Concerts in August, September, and October
Newport Classical Presents Three Free Community and Children’s Concerts
Free, Casual, and Welcoming to All
Presented by BankNewport
Children's Concert: Akropolis Reed Quintet
Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 4pm
Newport County YMCA | 792 Valley Road | Middletown, RI
Community Concert: Navy Band Northeast’s Crosswinds Woodwind Quintet
Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 2:30pm
Miantonomi Memorial Park | 120 Hillside Ave. | Newport, RI
Children's Concert: Aaron Larget-Caplan's New Lullaby Project
Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:30pm
Emmanuel Church | 42 Dearborn St. | Newport, RI
Information & Registration: www.newportclassical.org
Newport, RI – Newport Classical announces three free concerts as part of its 2025 Community Concerts Series presented by BankNewport taking place from August through October 2025. The GRAMMY® Award-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet performs on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 4:00pm at the Newport County YMCA (792 Valley Road, Middletown). The Navy Band Northeast’s Crosswinds Woodwind Quintet takes the stage on Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 2:30pm at Miantonomi Memorial Park, and classical guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan presents his New Lullaby Project on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:30pm at Emmanuel Church.
Audiences can look forward to enjoying these casual, engaging, and welcoming concerts designed especially for families right in their neighborhoods. Newport Classical's Community Concerts Series is free and open to the community; advanced registration is requested but not required for all performances.
On August 23, inspire your little one's love for classical music with the GRAMMY® Award-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet in a lively, free, and family-friendly concert perfect for kids and adults alike. This fun and interactive hour features upbeat selections from their last six albums, spanning a wide range of musical styles, including favorites like Death Metal Chicken and Circusmuziek, musical storytelling games, and more. Come early to explore the instrument petting zoo, grab a hot dog from Wally's Wiener Wagon, and experience an afternoon of joyful music-making at the YMCA. This concert is made possible through the generous support of Randy and Becky Johnson in honor of their granddaughter Schuyler Madison.
On September 7, join Newport Classical at Miantonomi Memorial Park for an afternoon of free live music with the Navy Band Northeast’s Crosswinds Woodwind Quintet. These five talented active-duty Navy musicians bring the rich colors of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn to life with a fun, wide-ranging program of beloved classical works, patriotic favorites, and familiar tunes that are sure to get you dancing. Bring your own blanket or chairs and settle in for a relaxed, family-friendly concert under the open sky.
On October 12, get cozy with classical guitar. Snuggle up for a magical afternoon with acclaimed guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan and his New Lullaby Project. Taking place at Emmanuel Church, this free interactive concert features original compositions commissioned from around the world, inviting young listeners to experience contemporary music through the traditional genre of the lullaby. Families will discover the classical guitar's gentle power through soothing melodies, Larget-Caplan's engaging storytelling, and unexpected musical surprises. Feel free to wear your comfiest PJs and bring your favorite stuffed animal and a blanket to enjoy the performance.
These concerts are generously presented as part of the BankNewport Community Concerts Series with additional support from the Rhode Island Foundation Newport County Fund and a Walmart Foundation Spark Good Local Grant.
For Newport Classical's complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts.
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc., Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In the 56 years since, Newport Classical has become the most active year-round presenter of live performing arts on Aquidneck Island, and an essential pillar of Rhode Island’s cultural landscape, welcoming thousands of patrons all year long.
Newport Classical invests in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form through its four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow. These programs illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music. To date, Newport Classical has commissioned and presented the world premiere of works by Stacy Garrop, Shawn Okpebholo, Curtis Stewart, Clarice Assad, and Cris Derksen.