The Newburyport Chamber Music Festival (NCMF) proudly announces its 2026 Summer Festival, marking 25 years of bringing world-class classical music to the North Shore. This milestone season features a repertoire balancing canonical masterpieces by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich with the contemporary creative brilliance of new works by Composer-in-Residence Jon Deak.
The milestone season features a distinguished roster of guest artists, including the Grammy Award-winning Miró String Quartet, legendary Metropolitan Opera soprano Lucy Shelton, and elite classical pianist Kenny Broberg, laureate of both the Tchaikovsky and Van Cliburn international competitions, who will be performing the Open Night Concert at St. Paul’s Church on Saturday, August 8th.
Festival highlights include: The Return of Jon Deak & Lucy Shelton concert on August 13th presents a theatrical night of music highlighting a cartoon-score performance of Cathy Berberian’s Stripsody, Aaron Copland folk classics, and a highly anticipated reprise of Deak’s The Jury, based on a poem by local icon Rhina P. Espaillat. The 25th Anniversary Finale concert on August 15th marks a long-held directorial vision by staging Mendelssohn’s breathtaking Octet in Eb Major (the “Mocktet”), paired dynamically with Shostakovich’s Two Pieces for string octet (the “Shocktet”). The performance features a world premiere by Composer-in-Residence Jon Deak and Poet-in-Residence Rhina P. Espaillat, performed by Lucy Shelton and the Miró String Quartet.
In addition, there are two Hausmusiks, a “Nachtmusik” in St. Anna’s Chapel (a concert held in complete darkness), a fundraising Salon concert in a private home, Open Rehearsals, and so much more. These events sell out, so purchase your tickets now at newburyportchambermusic.org. Questions? Call 978-701-4914.
