This summer’s Salt Bay Chamberfest will bring audience members on a journey of exploration through time-honored masterworks, new works by living composers, and two world premieres. Titled ‘Music Unearthed,” the 32nd annual festival runs Aug. 4 to 16, with performances at Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta, Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) in Rockland, and Minsky Recital Hall in Orono. SBC will also present multiple public-outreach events at local venues, in partnership with the Midcoastal Maine community.

The season opens on Tuesday, Aug. 4, with “Music Unearthed: Found,” a program that rediscovers two underperformed European chamber music masterworks—Anton Bruckner’s “String Quintet” and Mozart’s “Horn Quintet” alongside “Pale Blue Dot” by Gina Gillie, a modern work about Planet Earth for horn and fixed media. Performers are David Byrd-Marrow, horn; violinists Aaron Boyd and Susie Park; violists Natalie Loughran and Maiya Papach; and cellist Wilhelmina Smith, who is also SBC’s artistic and executive director.

Friday, Aug. 7 concert: “Unearthed: Earth and Sky,” captures birdsong and the spirituality of the skies with Haydn’s “String Quartet in C major, Op. 33, No. 3 “The Birds,” Messiaen’s “Abyss of the Birds,” from Quartet for the End of Time, and Brahms’ late-period “Clarinet Quintet.” Nipmuck flutist Hawk Henries plays his own works honoring the Earth and his Native American heritage. Performing with him are Romie de Guise-Langlois, clarinet; violinists Aaron Boyd and Susie Park; violist Maiya Papach; and cellist Wilhelmina Smith.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the Grammy-winning ensemble Sandbox Percussion joins composer and steel pannist Andy Akiho for “Unearthed: Created” with an intense, high-octane performance of works written especially for the group. Featuring commentary by members of the group, the concert includes the world premiere of Akiho’s SBC-commissioned work, "Pentalateral I."

On Friday, Aug. 14 - “Unearthed: Uprooted” - composer and cellist Karen Ouzounian explores her family’s Anatolian-Armenian and Lebanese roots and the significance of old music in a new world. Alongside her own compositions, French Baroque music is interwoven with original arrangements of Armenian folk music and the recorded voices of Karen’s mother and grandmother in a meditation on inheritance and the passage of time. Ouzounian is joined by violinists Sean Lee and Gabriela Díaz; violist Maiya Papach; bassist Shawn Conley; keyboardist Lembit Beecher, also on electronics; and oudist Issam Rafea.

A special “Bach Marathon” on Sunday, Aug. 16, features Grammy-winning violinist Jennifer Koh in a tour-de-force performance of all six of J.S. Bach’s sonatas and partitas for solo violin. There will be two intermissions with complimentary donuts and coffee.

These five festival concerts take place at Lincoln Theater (2 Theater Street, Damariscotta). The August 4, 7, 11, and 14 concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. (with pre-concert talks with conductor and educator Mark Mandarano at 6:30 p.m.). The August 16 concert begins at 2 p.m.

On Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7 pm, SBC presents “Sculptures of Sound” at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland. The concert pairs modern classical music selections with the Center’s ongoing exhibitions.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 pm at Minsky Recital Hall at the University of Maine, Orono, SBC presents Sandbox Percussion and Andy Akiho in a repeat of the Aug. 11 concert.

Violinist Sean Lee will be featured in a benefit event on Sunday, July 12 at 5 p.m. at Wanderwood in Nobleboro. His 30-minute violin recital of solo works by Ysaÿe and Paganini will be followed by wine, oysters, and other Maine culinary treats. All proceeds benefit Salt Bay Chamberfest.

For tickets and more information, visit www.saltbaychamberfest.org, e-mail contact@saltbaychamberfest.org, or call (207) 522-3749. All programs and artists are subject to change.

Salt Bay Chamberfest will also present a number of FREE events and performances for the community:

Wabanaki & SBC Collaboration: Thursday, Aug. 6 • Noon; With Hawk Henries and Lauren Stevens, Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness Cultural Center, 16 Central Street, Bangor;

Saturday, Aug. 8 • 4 p.m.; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay,  Birdsong with Birds  and at CMBG Sunday, August 9 • 4 p.m.; Heartbeat of Nature, Music on the River with Aaron Boyd, violin

Monday, Aug. 10 • 2 p.m.; A Maine listening adventure with naturalist Sarah Gladu and cellist Wilhelmina Smith, Keyes Woods Preserve, 185 Poor Farm Road, Bristol

Tuesday, Aug. 11 • 3 p.m.;  Lecture/Demo with Andy Akiho, steel pan. Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main Street Damariscotta

Wednesday, Aug. 12 • 1 p.m.;  Lecture/Demo with Karen Ouzounian, cello. Rutherford Public Library, 2000 State Route 129, South Bristol

 Thursday, Aug. 13 • 3 p.m.; Kids & Family Concert. Central Lincoln County YMCA, 525 Main St., Damariscotta

 Saturday, Aug. 15 • 1 p.m.; Masterclass with Sean Lee, violin. Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main St., Damariscotta

 Saturday, Aug. 15 • 4 p.m.; SBC @ Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Old Music in a New World. 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay

Events at Lincoln Theater: Friday, Aug. 7 - 6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 9 - 4 p.m. Music on the River - 39 Glidden St., Newcastle; Tuesday, Aug. 11 - 6:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk and 7:30 p.m. concert; Friday, Aug. 14 - 6:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk and 7:30 p.m. concert and Sunday, Aug. 16 - 2 p.m. Jennifer Koh Bach Marathon.

For complete details, and ticket sales visit https://saltbaychamberfest.org/