SBC’s 30th season, Music in Blue, intermingles historical and contemporary works that exemplify the influence of blues and jazz on classical chamber music, together with music inspired by blue landscapes in nature and the visual arts. The festival will present the SBC commission and world premiere a new work by composer /pianist Conrad Tao, inspired by Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Schedule of Events:

July 13, 2025:

4:00 p.m: Benefit Concert with Kate Aldrich and Tanya Blaich - Home of George Mason & Susan Weiser Mason - $175

Join us for our annual benefit concert featuring Damariscotta’s own world-renowned mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich with pianist Tanya Blaich. The 30-minute performance will be presented with hors d’oeuvres, oysters, wine, and good cheer in the airy church-turned-art studio home in Damariscotta Mills. Proceeds benefit SBC’s annual programming.

Festival Concert 1:

August 5, 2025:

Tuesday at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta, ME
Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 pm

August 7, 2025:

Thursday at 7:30 pm
Strand Theatre in Rockland, ME

Traditional Wabanaki Drumming
AVERY: Ohneka’shon:’a (The Waters)
STEVENS/AVERY: Skitkomiq (Mother Earth)
SOCKABASIN: Uzkummeedach (Forever)
DVORAK: String Quintet No. 3

Lauren Stevens, singer/drummer
Aaron Boyd, violin
Jesse Mills, violin
Misha Amory, viola
Natalie Loughran, viola
Wilhelmina Smith, cello
Cipelahq Ehpicik, traditional drumming

Festival Concert 2:

August 8, 2025:

Friday at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta, ME
Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 pm

DVO?ÁK: Dumka from Quartet No. 10
SCHUBERT: Scherzo from Quartet No. 15 in G major
MONTEVERDI: Lamento della ninfa
LIANG: Gobi Gloria
BARTOK: Scherzo alla bulgarese from Quartet No. 5
TCHAIKOVSKY: Andante cantabile from Quartet No. 1
GINASTERA: Allegramente rustico from Quartet No. 1
WEN-CHUNG: Larghetto nostalgico from Quartet No. 1, “Clouds”
LIANG: Madrigal Mongolia

Brentano String Quartet

Festival Concert 3:

August 12, 2025:

Tuesday at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta, ME
Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 pm

August 13, 2025:

Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Strand Theatre in Rockland, ME

FIGGIS-VIZUETA: New work (SBC commission)
DEBUSSY: String Quartet in G minor
RILEY: The Holy Liftoff

Claire Chase, flute
Aaron Boyd, violin
Kyu-Young Kim, violin
Jonathan Vinocour, viola
Wilhelmina Smith, cello
Ayano Kataoka, percussion

Festival Concert 4:

August 15, 2025:

Friday at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta, ME
Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 pm

MAHLER: Rückert-Lieder
CHEN: Returning Souls
MAHLER (arr. Ferree): “Der Abschied” from Das Lied von der Erde

Kate Aldrich, soprano
Aaron Boyd, violin
Kyu-Young Kim, violin
Jonathan Vinocour, viola
Wilhelmina Smith, cello
Gregg August, bass
Cassie Pilgrim, oboe
Alicia Lee, clarinet
David Byrd-Marrow, horn
Bridget Kibbey, harp
Ayano Kataoka, percussion

Festival Concert in Orono:

August 16, 2025:

Saturday at 7:30 pm
Minsky Recital Hall at the University of Maine in Orono, ME

MAHLER: Rückert-Lieder
DEBUSSY: String Quartet in G minor
STEVENS/AVERY: Skitkomiq (Mother Earth)
SOCKABASIN: Uzkummeedach (Forever)

Lauren Stevens, singer/drummer
Kate Aldrich, mezzo-soprano
Aaron Boyd, violin
Kyu-Young Kim, violin
Jonathan Vinocour, viola
Wilhelmina Smith, cello
Bridget Kibbey, harp

Free Community Events:

August 6, 2025:

12:00 pm: Wabanaki and SBC Collaboration - Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness Cultural Center in Bangor, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 7, 2025:

1:00 pm: Lecture/Demo with Wilhelmina Smith, cello - Rutherford Library in South Bristol, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

3:00 pm: Kids and Family Concert - Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 8, 2025:

3:00 pm: SBC at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 1 - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME - Cleaver Lawn
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 9, 2025:

1:00 pm: Violin Masterclass with Aaron Boyd - Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

4:00 pm: SBC at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 2 - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME - Arbor Garden
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 10, 2025:

5:00 pm: Music on the River with Claire Chase, flute - The home of Adrianne Zahner & Kyle Burchesky in Newcastle, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 11, 2025:

5:00 pm: Music at the Docks - Round Pond Harbor in Bristol, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 12, 2025:

3:00 pm: Lecture/Demo with Bridget Kibbey, harp - Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta, ME
This event is open to the public free of charge.

August 14, 2025:

4:00 pm: SBC at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 3 - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME - Great Lawn
This event is open to the public free of charge.

Dates: August 5 - 16, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Maine

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Click Here for More Information