LITTLE COMPTON — Lara Downes, one of this country’s foremost pianists, will be the first to play St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church’s recently donated century-old Steinway grand piano.

Already a headline performer at the upcoming Newport Music Festival, she will visit Little Compton on Monday, July 12, for a free performance at the church. She is scheduled to play starting at 3 pm; doors open at 2:20 pm (audience must wear masks).

Newport Music Festival has received grant funding for community/educational performances for surrounding towns.  The goal is to offer communities exposure to these artists and the diversity of their programming. 

Ms. Downes is an iconoclast and trailblazer whose dynamic work as a sought-after performer, a Billboard Chart-topping recording artist, media personality, producer, curator, and arts advocate positions her as a cultural visionary on the national arts scene.