Your Summer Guide to Classical Music 2018

For classical music lovers, there are some great events to look forward to over the next few months. Here’s what’s on tap for summer 2018:

The 2018 Music On The Hill festival presents seven concerts of chamber music from June 2 to 10 at various locations throughout the state, including Cranston, Warwick and Westerly. For more information: musiconthehillri.com

The Chorus of Westerly presents its free summer pops concert on Saturday, June 23, in Wilcox Park at 8pm. This family-friendly concert is always a good time. For more information: chorusofwesterly.org

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra kicks of its summer pops concerts at Narragansett Town Beach on July 13. This free concert repeats three times: Aug 10 at Roger Williams Park in PVD, September 2 at Independence Park in Bristol and September 10 at Slater Park in Pawtucket. For more information: riphilharmonic.org

Now in its 50^th season, the Newport Music Festival presents more than 40 concerts of chamber music from July 4 to 22. The wide variety in programming promises to keep any music fan coming back for more, not to mention the unique setting of chamber music in Newport’s historic mansions. For more information: newportmusic.org

The 30^th annual Kingston Chamber Music Festival presents a series of seven concerts July 25 to August 5 at the University of Rhode Island. For more information: kingstonchambermusic.org

To the north, The Boston Landmarks Orchestra presents free outdoor concerts at DCR Hatch Memorial Shell, Wednesday evenings starting on July 18. For more information: landmarksorchestra.org

Farther north are two festivals worth considering in New Hampshire. The 54^th Monadnock Music Festival runs June 10 to August 12. The New Hampshire Music Festival runs July 10 to Aug 11. For anyone vacationing in New Hampshire, these festivals are a wonderful addition to your itinerary. For information on these festivals: monadnockmusic.org and nhmf.org

To the south, The Talcott Mountain Music Festival featuring the Hartford Symphony Orchestra performs outdoor concerts on Fridays, June 29 to July 27. For more information: hartfordsymphony.org/concerts-tickets/series/talcott-mountain-music-festival

For die-hard classical music fans, Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Mass, remains the epicenter of classical music in New England over the summer months. The season features regular concerts by the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops orchestras and the Festival of Contemporary Music, as well as various pop and jazz artists. This year’s guest artists include the Emerson String Quartet, Andy Grammer, the Steve Miller Band, Alison Krauss, Stephen Stills and Judy Collins, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Connick Jr. For more information: bso.org/Home