Newport Classical has two chamber concerts in October at its recital hall at 42 Dearborn St., plus a pair of free afternoon concerts mid-month.
Trio Azura, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The group swept the 51st Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2024, taking the grand prize and gold medal along with two special prizes. Its program pairs the Ravel and Mendelssohn piano trios with music by Pulitzer winner Jennifer Higdon. The trio — violinist Duncan McDougall, cellist Yejin Hong and pianist Yanfeng Bai — formed at the Colburn School in Los Angeles in 2022 and is ensemble-in-residence there.
Rasa String Quartet, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Boston group makes its Newport debut with “An American Patchwork,” a program built around the country’s 250th anniversary that runs from William Grant Still and Billy Strayhorn to Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate and Bad Bunny. The quartet — Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin on violin, Kiyoshi Hayashi on viola and Mina Kim on cello — works at the seam between classical and folk traditions and has collaborated with Irish fiddler Liz Carroll and Judy Collins.
Ensemble Mélange, Oct. 18 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Free, part of the Community Concerts Series presented by BankNewport. The ensemble brings a menu of more than 30 pieces spanning classical, jazz, Latin and Broadway, and audience members are chosen at random to pick what gets played next.
Both chamber concerts include wine at intermission from Gold’s Wine and Spirits, followed by a reception with the musicians at the Brenton Hotel with wine and charcuterie. Every visiting musician also performs in Newport-area schools through the organization’s education initiative.
Tickets are at newportclassical.org.
