SBC’s 2024 festival, Music in Blue, intermingles historical and contemporary works that exemplify the influence of blues and jazz on classical chamber music, peppered with music inspired by blue landscapes in nature and the visual arts. The four main festival concerts are as follows: Tuesday, August 6 at 7:30 pm On the 100th anniversary of the premiere of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, pianist/composer Conrad Tao presents a newly composed work—co-commissioned by SBC— honoring the original masterpiece’s highly theatrical spirit. It is paired with Bartók’s dance-infused Contrasts. In addition to Tao, performers will include violinist Geneva Lewis; bassist Gregg August; clarinetist Derek Bermel; and trombonist Angel Subero. Friday, August 9 at 7:30 pm Blue Maine waters are the inspiration for a concert featuring pianist Anne-Marie McDermott and a new work by composer Xavier Foley paired with Schubert’s famous “Trout” Quintet. The concert will also feature Geneva Lewis, violin; Maiya Papach, viola; Gregg August, bass; and Yeesun Kim, cello. Tuesday, August 13 at 7:30 pm Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad’s eclectic style finds inspiration in jazz. Drawing a parallel to French Impressionists who were likewise inspired, this program pairs Assad’s Aquamarine—a work with a vibrant color palette, written for Anne-Marie McDermott—with Ravel’s masterful Violin Sonata and Fauré’s evocative Piano Quartet No. 2. Jennifer Frautschi, violin; Maiya Papach, viola; and Wilhelmina Smith, cello, will also perform. Friday, August 16 at 7:30 pm Vijay Iyer’s new piano concerto, “Handmade Universe,” incorporates elements of jazz in a work written for Shai Wosner and the East Coast Chamber Orchestra, presented here in a special partnership with Portland Chamber Music Festival. Violinist Jennifer Koh joins festival directors Wilhelmina Smith (SBC) and Melissa Reardon (PCMS) in Missy Mazzoli’s folk-inspired string trio and Mozart’s dark and brooding G minor Piano Quartet to bring the festival’s 30th year to a rousing conclusion. Salt Bay Chamberfest will also present a variety of free events for the community. For a full listing, please visit our website at www.saltbaychamberfest.org.