This year’s Festival brings musicians from around the world to celebrate 60 years of chamber music in Brunswick
BRUNSWICK — The Bowdoin International Music Festival has announced its event lineup for the 60th anniversary season with an exciting variety of artists and programming to celebrate the milestone year.
Founded in 1964, the Festival engages students and audiences through world-class education and performances. Each year, the Festival welcomes 275 students from more than a dozen countries and nearly every state to study with distinguished faculty and guest artists. Community members attend the subscription series, the Festival’s premier concert series featuring world-class faculty and guest artists, as well as 175 free events including student performances, composer lectures, masterclasses, community concerts, and family events.
The 60th anniversary season kicks off on June 24 with the Ying Quartet performing alongside pianist Soyeon Kate Lee at Studzinski Recital Hall in Brunswick.
This year’s Festival will feature five notable string quartets, in addition to the Yings — the Brentano, Jupiter, Miró, Pacifica, and Turtle Island Quartets — and will welcome distinguished artists such as Sergei Babayan, Alexi Kenney, Miriam Fried, Roberto Díaz, and Tania León for performances, masterclasses, and talks.
The Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music, three days dedicated to new music by today’s innovative composers, will be headlined by the Talea Ensemble, a New York-based group known for bringing visionary new works to life with vibrant performances.
The Festival also continues its popular Community Concert Series throughout the Midcoast and Southern Maine regions. These performances — presented in arts and community centers, libraries, museums, and breweries — provide a chance for families and the community at-large to build an interest in classical music. Concerts also offer the Festival’s rising young artists an opportunity to engage with Maine communities and discover new ways to grow as musicians. This year’s Series will include a Festival Birthday Celebration on the Brunswick Mall, featuring music, an interactive instrument “Petting Zoo,” cupcakes, free tote bags, and more.
The Young Artists Series, which showcases the Festival’s talented students in more than 20 lively concerts at Studzinski Recital Hall will run from June 27 through Aug. 2. All are free and open to the public.
Season and flex pass bundles are on sale now, with individual tickets going on sale in mid-May.
To learn more about the events and ticketing, visit bowdoinfestival.org.
The mission of the Bowdoin International Music Festival is to prepare gifted young musicians from around the world for a life in music through study with world-class artists, and to present classical music in concerts throughout Midcoast Maine at the highest artistic standards. Over its 60-year history, the Festival has established itself as a vital force throughout the music world. The Festival is an independent non-profit organization. Learn more at bowdoinfestival.org.
