Sundays at Four, Smithfield’s performing arts series, has a track record for introducing and encouraging new ensembles as well as ensembles new to Isle of Wight. 

Part of the SAF mission is to present varied programming, according to a news release. Combining these two inspired the first Sundays at Four program of the upcoming New Year.

At 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7 Christ Episcopal Church in Smithfield, SAF features the Tidewater Piano Trio, a newly-formed piano trio (violin, cello and piano), in a program of masterpieces by Turina, Rachmaninoff and Dvorak – all Trios by the Romantics.

This ensemble, all active soloists and chamber musicians, are members of the Virginia Symphony,  is an outgrowth of the Ambrosia String Quartet. It includes two string players, Simon Lapointe on violin, and Rebecca Gilmore on cello.

Piano trio repertoire is different from string quartet music. Each individual instrument and part is more exposed and more accessible to the listener in the audience, the release stated. And the repertoire chosen for this concert is fine fare. 

New to the group is pianist Alexander Beyer. Reviews describe him as outstanding. We look forward to this new ensemble for Hampton Roads and beyond, according to the release.

Years ago, Sundays at Four introduced the Smithfield Trio in two performances. Each August, SAF presents a student showcase, Terrific Teen Talent, a program of the best of the area’s teenage musicians, many of whom have gone on to stellar careers in the professional music world — all of them from Tidewater. 

Tickets for the Jan. 7 program can be purchased at the door on the afternoon of the performance. They are also available online from evenbrite.com. Adult tickets are $20 and students are $10 per person. This concert, like most, is at Christ Episcopal Church, 111 South Church St. in Smithfield’s Historic District. 

For additional information, call Mary Cole at 757-675-5777.