The Newport Restoration Foundation & Doris Duke's Rough Point Celebrates Music in Its Annual Exhibit and Program Schedule

Upcoming programs to feature gospel and jazz.

Newport, RI (PRWEB) July 11, 2013

Doris Duke – heiress, philanthropist and art collector – was also a great supporter of the arts, in particular, music. As a philanthropist, Miss Duke's giving was often driven by her direct interest and participation. The annual exhibit at Rough Point, Miss Duke's Newport home, highlights her tremendous generosity and her personal interests that often drove her giving. A Career of Giving: The Surprising Legacy of Doris Duke explores her lesser-known passions and the surprising ways she donated an estimated $400 million in her lifetime.

“We see in the exhibit as well as in the house, that music was an important part of Doris Duke's life. She took jazz piano lessons, sang in a gospel choir and kept reel-to-reel recording equipment in her houses. She even started a record label,” explains Kristen Costa, the exhibit's curator. “Through the Doris Duke Historical Archives we know that she supported music on many levels, from providing piano lesson scholarships to helping with tuition for inner-city youth at Julliard School of Music to providing support to individual artists.”

The annual education program schedule at Rough Point typically reflects aspects of Miss Duke's life highlighted in the exhibit. Two upcoming programs bring to life her love of music.

Gospel Brunch
July 21, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Savor a traditional Southern-style brunch, provided by Becky's BBQ and Johnson & Wales trained chef Shawn Jeanton, followed by a performance of a 65-member gospel choir and live musicians overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from Doris Duke's magnificent estate. The concert, entitled Peace Be Still, is the 7th annual RPM Voices of Rhode Island Concert & Gospel Brunch. RPM Voices is a non-denominational, educational organization that will shed light on the history of this musical form that was so dear to Doris Duke. Guests will enjoy musical presentations of spirituals, gospels, hymns and anthems. Spirits will soar, music will resound, and people from all spiritual beliefs, denominations and walks of life, will come together to celebrate the rich musical traditions of African Americans.

The program will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2013. Brunch will be from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 3:00pm. Brunch and concert is $45 (reservations required), concert only is $20; and VIP supporter, which includes an after-concert cocktail reception with RPM's Artistic Director and Rough Point's Curator, is $125. The exhibit galleries, featuring Doris Duke's own choir robe, and cash bar will be open from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for all attendees. Reservations and more information at: http://www.newportrestoration.org/calendar/ or 401-846-4152.

Jazz After Dark: Conversations with George Wein
July 31, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

We are pleased to host Jazz After Dark: Conversations with George Wein in partnership with the Newport Festivals Foundation and the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's annual BridgeFest celebration. Join us for an educational panel presentation with George Wein, jazz impresario and creator of the Newport Jazz Festival and Kristen Costa, curator of the Rough Point exhibit. The discussion will be moderated by Jim Gillis, former arts editor of the Newport Daily News. The panelists will discuss the history of the legendary music festival as well as Doris Duke's affinity for the music genre. On display in the exhibit is Miss Duke's hat from the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival.

The panel presentation will be preceded and followed by live jazz music. Come hear a trio of local musicians including on saxophone Chase Ceglie, who will be performing with the RIMEA Senior All-State Jazz Band to open Newport Jazz Festival; guitarist John Baboian, professor at Berklee College of Music; and Alan Bernstein, Supervisor of the Arts for Newport Public Schools and 2013 Teacher of the Year, on bass.

Wednesday, July 31, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Panel discussion begins at 6:00 p.m. The exhibit galleries and cash bar will be open throughout the night. Advance reservations for the panel discussion are encouraged, as space is limited; contact Liz Spoden at liz(at)newportrestoration(dot)org or 401-846-4152. $5 per person.

A Career of Giving: The Surprising Legacy of Doris Duke will be on exhibit in the galleries at Rough Point April 11 through November 9, 2013. Guided house tours, which last approximately 75 minutes and include the exhibit, cost $25. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free. Tours are offered 10:00-2:00, Thursday-Saturday, April 11 – May 11. From May 14 to November 9, tours are offered 10:00-3:45, Tuesday-Saturday. In addition, the galleries are open during Rough Point After Dark, a series of special events, as well as during educational lectures and programming. For more information or to buy tickets, visit http://www.NewportRestoration.org or call (401) 847-8344.

Rough Point was bequeathed to the Newport Restoration Foundation by Doris Duke upon her death in 1993, complete with all of its contents. It was her express wish that it be opened to the public as a house museum. Founded by Miss Duke in 1968, the Newport Restoration Foundation, a non-profit institution, was formed with the express purpose of preserving, interpreting, and maintaining landscape and objects reflecting Aquidneck Island's 18th- and 19th-century architectural culture.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10917569.htm