Damariscotta is home to the Damariscotta River oyster and great heaps of sweet local mussels; a twice weekly local farmers market; many fine examples of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture, vestiges of a once-thriving shipbuilding life; and the widely acclaimed Salt Bay Chamberfest.

Salt Bay Chamberfest's 21st season of performances will be run Aug. 4-14, in the Darrows Barn, a historic 19th century dairy barn turned concert hall that overlooks the scenic Great Salt Bay. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m.

This season features the world premiere trio “Romance” by Alan Fletcher, as well as new works by Steve Reich, Andrew Norman and Murray Shafer, interwoven into concerts that playfully explore the idea of couplings in a season titled “Game of Pairs.”

Among the performers are such luminaries as violinists Jennifer Koh and Jennifer Frautschi; pianists Ieva Jokubaviciute and Ignat Solzhenitsyn; Sowah Mensah, Master Drummer of Ghana, and Festival music director and founder, cellist Wilhelmina Smith.

The opening concert on Tuesday, Aug. 4, pairs the Variation String Trio (Jennifer Koh, Hsin-Yun Huang and Wilhelmina Smith with pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn, performing Brahms' “Op. 60 piano quartet in c minor.” The program begins with a Boccherini String Trio, written in Rome, and Andrew Norman’s “Companion Guide to Rome” for string trio. Norman will be in residence for the season, in attendance for the open dress rehearsal, pre-concert lecture and concert — all on concert days.

On Friday, Aug. 7, Salt Bay explores couples and pairs in a two piano/four hands program, ending with Schubert’s String Quartet referencing another famous pair, “Death and the Maiden.”

Pianists Ieva Jokubaviciute and Reiko Uchida perform selections from Kurtag’s “Jatekok” (“Games”), Schumann's “Andante and Variations” and Ravel’s “La Valse.” Scott St. John and Jennifer Frautschi, violins, Dov Scheindlin, vla and Wilhelmina Smith are joined by cellist Yee-Sun Kim (of the Borromeo Quartet) and Eric Ruske, horn.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the audience hears the world premiere of a piece commissioned by Salt Bay Chamberfest for piano, clarinet and bassoon, by Alan Fletcher. “Romance” is performed by clarinetist Michael Rusinek and bassoonist Nancy Goeres, for whom it was written (both are principals of the Pittsburgh Symphony), as well as pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute.

The program also includes Murray Shafer’s String Quartet #3 and Beethoven’s Septet. The trio is joined by Scott St. John and Jennifer Frautschi, violins, Dov Scheindlin, vla, Yee-sun Kim, cello, Leigh Mesh (associate principal bass of the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) and Eric Ruske, horn.

Pairs of percussionists, pianists and African Drummers astound audiences in Salt Bay Chamberfest's final concert on Friday, Aug. 14. New York Philharmonic principal timpanist Markus Rhoten and associate principal percussionist Daniel Druckman join pianists Thomas Sauer and Amy Yang for Bartok’s Sonata and Steve Reich’s Quartet, both for two pianos and percussion.

Sowah Mensah, Master Drummer from Ghana, preforms original traditional African drum music with his son, Nii-Adjetey Mensah.

All rehearsals are open to season plus pass holders and community partners; pre-concert talks given by Mark Mandarano are at 6:30 p.m., one hour prior to each 7:30 p.m. concert.

And for a little something to add pleasure to your evening, each Tuesday and Friday a different local food truck or vendor will offer fresh pre-concert fare and drinks. The Moo Cafe will serve dessert and coffee before the concert and at intermission.

Summer camp and

educational programming

For the fourth season, Salt Bay Chamberfest, and the Damariscotta River Association join forces on a two-week camp for children ages 9-12, an educational venture. This year’s program, "Nature/Music” brings together naturalist Sarah Gladu and composer/bassist Jon Deak, creator of the New York Philharmonic's highly successful "Very Young Composers," to offer campers an immersion in nature and its sounds where they learn to express themselves by writing their own piece of music.

Compositions are performed in SBCF's Family Concert at Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy on Saturday, Aug. 8, alongside Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” Quartet, performed by musicians of Salt Bay Chamberfest.

A piano masterclass will take place at Schooner Cove Retirement Community on Aug. 14.

Educational activities also include pre-concert talks, post- concert gatherings, and informal meetings in various local spots.

For more information and tickets, visit www.saltbaychamberfest.org. Tickets are also available through BrownPaperTickets: 1-800-838-3006.