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Music Festival Announces 2016 Theme and Dates

Each year the Bowdoin International Music Festival chooses a new theme to inform its educational program and the music selected for the concerts. This year Artistic co-directors David Ying and Phillip Ying’s chosen theme is ‘Re-Invention: Timeless Music and New Visions.’ In musical terms, re-invention happens in many ways. Typically, we think of works that break new ground in style, compositional technique, instrumentation, instrumental technique, form, harmonic language, concept of sound, etc. Re-invention can also happen through new arrangements or new use of existing material. It is a critical and continual process that characterizes any living, growing entity, and is certainly true of today’s Bowdoin Festival. With the theme of “Re-invention,” we move forward toward the future. This summer, the idea of Re-invention will be represented in our full range of programming – from beloved standards to the kinds of vibrant, new work that have always been an essential part of who we are.

2016 will mark more than half a century of the Bowdoin Festival working with a vast array of distinguished professional musicians, and mentoring more than 5,000 students from across the globe. This year’s Festival will be supported by a highly competitive National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks grant, which was announced in early December.

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 performed to the highest artistic standards. Over its 51­year history, the Bowdoin Festival has established itself as a vital force throughout the music world. Look for an announcement of the complete program in March. FMI, visit www.bowdoinfestival.org.

2016 Concert Dates

Festival Fridays

Our premier Friday night series presenting traditional chamber music and orchestral repertoire performed by artists from around the world.

• July 1
• July 8
• July 15
• July 22
• July 29
• August 5

Wednesday Upbeat

A mid-week series featuring Festival artists, offering a mixture of established and contemporary works in a casual setting.

• June 29
• July 6
• July 13
• July 20
• July 27
• August 3

Monday Showcase

Four great string quartets, performing quartets and collaborating with other faculty artists. In 2016, the Ariel, Jupiter, Shanghai, and Ying Quartets.

• July 4
• July 11
• July 18
• July 25
• August 1