The Puddingstone Music Series, a 501(c)3 non-profit, has just named its first Board of Directors. This new board brings together five members with diverse backgrounds and expertise:
Karen Nielsen Bevan, a classically trained soprano, joins as a Director.
Karen majored in the history of art and classical voice studies at Connecticut College and Yale, then subsequently performed soprano roles in NYC at venues including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. She later developed, produced and sang in a series of original Broadway Musicales that were performed throughout New York State in private homes, clubs, and at charity events. Other creative pursuits have included freelance feature writing, sales and marketing positions, music and arts correspondent for a local television program, narration for children’s orchestral concerts, and radio voice overs for classical music stations.
Katie Moorhead, a contemporary ballet dancer and founder of Rhode Island’s largest Gyrotonic studio, takes on the role of Dance Director.
Katie is an accomplished contemporary ballet dancer with over 20 years of experience performing on prestigious stages across the East Coast, Central Asia, and Europe. An honors graduate of the Kirov Academy of Ballet, she received the Honorable Merit Diploma from the Tersiphora Foundation in St. Petersburg in 2004. After relocating to Rhode Island, Katie introduced the Gyrotonic Expansion System to the region, founding the largest studio in the state. Katie freelances in art galleries and creative spaces, is an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University, and serves as the Dance Director of Puddingstone.
William Schaal, a retired pharmaceutical executive with extensive volunteer and non-profit leadership experience, steps in as Secretary.
Bill Schaal is a happily retired Director of Quality Assurance for a major pharmaceutical company, grateful to be free of that rat race. As a youth, his first concert was Eugene Ormandy’s Philadelphia Orchestra with Van Cliburn as guest artist, and this sparked a passion to study piano. He now has time to devote his volunteer and non-profit leadership experience to arts and music and is thrilled to have been asked to help with the organization of Puddingstone.
Mary Masri, based in Washington, D.C., lends her arts and fundraising expertise as Treasurer.
Mary Masri brings a wealth of experience and expertise from her work in the United States and abroad, including in the arts and fundraising spaces. She is based in Washington, D.C. and holds a master’s degree in Security Policy Studies.
Clemens Teufel, the founder of Puddingstone Music Series, serves as Chairman of the Board.
The Puddingstone Music Series aims to create unique artistic experiences by blending classical music and jazz with other art forms in a 19th-century salon-style setting. These events take place in historic venues across Newport and Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island.
As the organization states on its website, “Our team brings a wide range of perspectives, with board members coming from different professions and backgrounds. What brings us together is our shared commitment to promoting the arts, connecting with our community, and supporting its growth and well-being.”
Coming Up For Puddingstone
Following February’s sold-out concert at Newport Art Museum, the Puddingstone music series continues its 2025 season in March and April with two new concerts.
Sunday, March 9th at 3:00pm “Très Doux” at Belmont Chapel (30 Warner Street, Newport, RI)
Join us for a delightful afternoon of music at the beautiful Belmont Chapel in Newport, featuring the esteemed Sheffield Chamber Players. This concert will showcase two exquisite quartets: Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 5 in A Major (Op. 18) and Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major.
Both works are early masterpieces from their respective composers, offering a glimpse into the development of their distinctive styles. Beethoven’s Op. 18 No. 5 is vibrant, full of energy and classical elegance, while Ravel’s String Quartet, composed in his youth, is a stunning blend of impressionism and innovative textures, revealing his emerging voice.
A cash bar and small bites are included in the ticket price. Doors open at 2:30 PM. Parking is available on the Island Cemetery grounds; please enter through Warner Street.
Saturday, April 26th at 6:30pm “Celli à Deux” at Rough Point (680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI)
An Evening of Music and Dance at Rough Point. This concert will feature Arlen Hlusko, Grammy Award-winning cellist from Canada, alongside Frankie Car, British-American cellist, both esteemed members of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. They will be joined by Clemens Teufel, German pianist and founder of Puddingstone.
The program features a rich array of works, including Beethoven’s Cello Sonata Op. 5 No. 2, followed by Schumann’s Fantasy, Op. 73, originally written for clarinet and here arranged for cello. Shostakovich’s “Five Pieces for Two Violins” will be reimagined for two cellos, and Alban Berg’s “Sieben Frühe Lieder”, arranged for cello, will bring a lyrical, turn-of-the-century avant-garde touch to the evening.
Throughout the performance, Rhea Keller and Katie Moorhead, renowned and beloved dancers who have both previously been presented by Newport Contemporary Ballet, will bring their graceful and expressive movement to select pieces of the program, further elevating the experience. A cash bar featuring drinks from Bow Bar will be available, along with small bites included in the ticket price. Seating is limited, ensuring an intimate and immersive experience.
Advance tickets are available at PuddingstoneFestival.com/events.