10 Ways to Experience the Festival for FREE!

1. COMMUNITY CONCERTS: As part of the Community Concert Series, students engage with audiences audiences in over 20 venues throughout Maine. Highlights of this year’s series include Cellardoor Winery, Portland Museum of Art, Flight Deck Brewing, Piper Shores, and the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. Finally, join Brunswick Community Night at Hadlock Field for the Festival’s performance of the National Anthem before the Sea Dogs game. Popcorn, crackerjacks, hot dogs, baseball, and glorious music.

2. LIVE STREAMING: This summer the Festival continues live streaming performances and events to anyone with an internet connection. Local and global audiences can access exceptional performances and events on any internet-connected device. If you are too busy to make it to campus, you can enjoy live chamber music while having an afternoon coffee or when cooking dinner.

3. YOUNG ARTISTS SERIES: The Young Artists Series presents performances in Studzinski Recital Hall by advanced young musicians who come to the Festival from conservatories and music schools in more than twenty-five countries.

4. MASTERCLASSES: Masterclasses give audiences a first-hand look into the teaching and learning process that goes into creating music. Honing technical craft, understanding the nuances of musical language, and finding personal meaning in music are all part of a great masterclass.

5. MEET THE COMPOSER: Composer lectures are an opportunity to experience the creative process of a working composer. These distinguished artists will discuss aspects of their music and inspirations and then accept questions from the audience.

6. COMPOSERS AT THE MUSEUM: Student composers will select a work of art from the Museum gallery and use it as an inspiration for a new composition, which will be performed by Festival students alongside the original work of art.

7. GAMPER FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC: The Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music presents the music of our time. Over its history, the Gamper Festival has celebrated many of the most significant composers such as Milton Babbitt, Luciano Berio, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, George Crumb, and Ralph Shapey as well as new voices at the start of their careers. This year’s programs will feature new works by some of today’s most exciting composers.

8. STUDIO CLASSES: A studio class is a gathering of an instructor and students for an opportunity to play on stage for their peers. By definition, a studio class is not open to the public, but the Festival welcomes community members to enter and observe the class quietly.

9. MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM: In collaboration with the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Festival will present world-renowned musicians in the museum’s gallery spaces. Reservations required.

10. GUINEA PIGS IN BOW TIES: The evening features works written within 48 hours prior to the concert. Exactly two days before, student composers randomly draw performer names and instruments out of a hat. Using the resulting instrumentation, composers immediately write a new piece of music for “guinea pig” musicians.