Sunday Afternoon at the Central Library

The Newport Beach Public Library hosts outstanding classical and instrumental music and performers throughout the year. The hour-long Sunday Musicales are held on Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Friends Room at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach. If you missed a Sunday Musicale, you may be able to view it on NBTV streaming video.

Joshua Simka, tenor

Sunday, September 18, 2022, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Tenor Joshua Simka, of Pompano Beach, Florida, has sung excerpts from the roles of Tamino, Tonio, Nemorino, and Lurcanio. At Opera America, he sang the role of Rudi in a presentation of scenes from a new opera called Steal a Pencil for Me by Gerald Cohen. Simka has also sung in numerous opera choruses and given shared and solo recitals.

TC4 Saxophone Quartet

Sunday, October 16, 2022, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

TC4 returns for a concert of exciting and celebrated works for the saxophone quartet. The group will perform works by renowned composers Scott Joplin and Jean Rivier, along with new works of living composers Zach Browning, Victor Marquez, and George Powell Nash. This eclectic set explores the sounds of Ragtime, French Romanticism, Latin Music, and Classic Rock! TC4 features Andrew Harrison, Isaac Lopez, Francis Cisneros, and Robert Alexander. NBTV Video

The Madeleine Trio

Sunday, November 20, 2022, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

The Madeleine Trio began in 2011 with three former students from CSU Fullerton, who met as graduate and undergraduate students. The main focus of the chamber group and the is focused on pieces written for flute, oboe and piano. This unusual combination has been written for by many notable composers across the classical music eras and we always enjoy playing pieces that are diverse in time periods, styles, and genres. Lisa Yamamoto, flute; Jenny Jee-El Park, piano; Maralynne Mann, oboe. NBTV Video

ACE Trio

Sunday, December 11, 2022, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

ACE Trio is a Los Angeles based classical modern ensemble rapidly distinguishing itself as one of the newest leading groups of its generation. Performing their own innovative arrangements and all accessible contemporary music by living composers from around the world, ACE Trio is dedicated to promoting the newest voices of our art. They will be performing a special arrangement of holiday classics. NBTV Video

Duo Apollon

Sunday, January 22, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Aaron Haas and Anastasia Malliaras of Duo Apollon perform art song repertoire for voice and guitar, as well as transcriptions from piano. The repertoire originally written for guitar and voice is less well-known than that for piano and voice, and showcases song cycles which are rarely heard, while the transcriptions reinterpret classic art song with the unique sound of the guitar-voice duo.

Aristides Rivas, cello

Sunday, February 19, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Beethoven and Rachmaninoff are two of the most iconic composers of the romantic period. This program will feature two sonatas for cello and piano by these masters. They provide a window into their extreme genius, love, and darkness.

Ryan Whyman

Sunday, March 19, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Pianist and composer Ryan Whyman performs a program of imaginative and emotionally compelling music written over this last year during his transition into fatherhood. Ryan’s classical foundation and his love of jazz, folk and film music culminate in a performance that transcends genre is sure to evoke imagery in the mind of the listener.

Mirror Visions Ensemble

Sunday, April 16, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Mirror Visions Ensemble’s Midnight Magic reflects upon the witching hour as musical favorites by Mozart, Debussy, and Price intermingle with Bonds, Sondheim, and more. Four stunning voices (soprano Mireille Asselin, mezzo Abi Levis, tenor Daniel McGrew, and baritone Mischa Bouvier) are alongside pianist Max Hammond. Performances of commissioned works feature Carlos Simon’s “Dreams” and Andrew Gerle’s arrangement of “That Old Black Magic.”

Duo MAT, piano duo

Sunday, May 21, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Inhyun Lee and Ena Kim of Duo MAT are a southern California-based piano duo ensemble. They want to make art, not only limited to music, together with the audience and share their musical emotions. The program consists of various composers, well-known pieces, from jazz to original classical styles. 

Sunday Musicales at the Central Library are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served, limited by room capacity of 200. Funding is graciously donated by the Friends of the Library. View the performance video archives.

Please note:  If you are a musician or part of an ensemble interested in performing in our 2023-24 season, please send bio information and performance video links to Terry Sanchez at tsanchez@newportbeachca.gov, or call (949) 717-3895 for questions.