Bay Chamber Concerts, Rockport's beloved musical institution, is thrilled to announce its 2016 Screen Door Music Festival running from August 17-21 with over 24 events in five days. The festival's new name, Screen Door, reflects the inviting, summery gatherings that are so much a part of Maine, while engaging audiences with the riveting lineup for this year that unfolds in Rockport.

Fittingly, Screen Door's new tagline is "The Sounds of Summer," a play on the music of the festival and the gentle natural sounds of Maine outdoors. Bay Chamber has begun a push to publicize the festival, now in its fourth year, which is steadily gaining prestige and attracting more attendees as well as marquee performers.

"Screen Door now has a perfect identity for a festival that brings world-renowned musicians to these intimate venues, all in a super relaxed, summer-in-Maine atmosphere," said Manuel Bagorro, Bay Chamber's artistic director. "I think this year's roster of artists really shows that Screen Door has a bright future indeed."

Each day of Screen Door begins with Bach for Breakfast, a series of lecture recitals exploring the strange beauty in Bach's Goldberg Variations, by "an utterly distinctive voice" (New York Times), pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Several quartets perform monumental classical repertoire, as well as innovative new music; Asylum Saxophone Quartet opens the festival with a contemporary fanfare, performs a concert of new music and plays a free picnic concert on the town green in Camden.

Chiara String Quartet performs Brahms and contemporary composer Jefferson Friedman; violinist Rebecca Fischer, first violinist of the quartet, also performs in a new multi-media work with dance and video projections produced by visual artist Anthony Hawley and premieres new works for solo violin by composers including Nico Muhly and Paola Prestini.

The return of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, known for "dramatic fire and ... a hint of rock 'n' roll energy ...” (LA Times) is marked with a Gala Benefit Concert of Haydn, Adams and Beethoven. Chiara and St. Lawrence string quartets combine for the “Mendelssohn Octet Experience,” a lecture recital celebrating one of the miracles of 19^th century music. Throbbing funk grooves, fiery Balkan brass, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops of NYC's brass band Slavic Soul Party! cause ripples in an unprecedented, free musical happening on Megunticook Lake. A summer festival of inspiring music, convivial conversation, atmospheric venues and approachable, world-renowned artists, all in a distinctly summer in Maine setting.

Bagorro believes this festival brings a truly unique experience to the Midcoast at the height of summer. "This is so much more than chamber music," Bagorro said. "It is a creative mashup and a celebration along one of the most beautiful shorelines in the world."

Location: Rockport Opera House, 6 Central Street, Rockport, ME 04856; Union Hall, 24 Central Street, Rockport and various others.

Ticket prices vary from $10 for youth under 25, to $45. For more information call 207-236-2823 or 1-888-707-2770; e-mail info@baychamberconcerts.org; or go online at www.baychamberconcerts.org