Historic Music of Newport was founded in 2022 to preserve the diverse musical history of Newport, RI. Since then, we have:

• Catalogued over 1000 pieces of music with Newport ties from the late 18th century to the early 20th century.

• Researched over 1000 musicians connected to Newport and begun to tell their stories.

• Purchased physical copies of music as well as postcards and personal letters with Newport musical significance.

• Established the Touro Park Summer Concert Series, returning free live family friendly concerts to the historic park.

• Visited and hosted schools on field trips, giving talks about our musical history.

• Provide tours of the Island Cemetery and the Fort Adams Cemetery, highlighting the lives of the musicians buried in each cemetery.

• Co-sponsor the Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport’s performances at the Preservation Society of Newport County's mansions.

We continue to focus on telling the story of Newport through the eyes of the musicians and their music. The city was home to a diverse group of musicians from all over the world, including the island’s native inhabitants, enslaved and freed African Americans, immigrants, and those born locally. They served in the Army at Fort Adams and the Navy at the Naval Training Station in Newport. They were orchestra members at the local theaters and organists at the many churches of Newport. Both professional and amateur musicians were important to the early life of the city.