The Garth Newel Piano Quartet is known for its spirited and impassioned performances that offer an enlivened interpretation of both standard and new repertoire. An active presence on the national and international stage, the program and perform over 50 concerts each year, engaging with audiences through conversational and interactive programs. They have performed throughout the United States and on five continents, at such prominent venues as Carnegie Hall, Strathmore Hall, The Chautauqua Institution, and the San Diego Chamber Music Workshop. They were recipients of the Chamber Music America commissioning grant in 2017, and regularly commission and premiere music of their contemporaries.

The quartet believes strongly in promoting creativity and holds an annual competition for rising composers aimed at bolstering the piano quartet genre

Garth Newel Music Center's programming is supported by the Virginia Commission for Arts and National Endowment for the Arts