Minnesota Orchestra Maestro Osmo Vänskä will make a rare appearance playing clarinet during Salt Bay Chamberfest's concert on August 12 at Darrows Barn in Damariscotta. Maestro Vänskä will perform Bartók's “Contrasts for Clarinet, Violin and Piano” with Erin Keefe, violin and Lydia Artymiw, piano.

To open the program, Salt Bay Chamberfest's Founder and Artistic Director Wilhelmina Smith, will join Artymiw for Beethoven's Sonata in C Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 102, No. 1. The concert will conclude with the newly formed Artymiw-Keefe-Smith Trio performing Dvořák's beloved Trio in G Minor, Op. 26.

This season Salt Bay Chamberfest's 20th anniversary theme is “Darkness & Light.”

Recently named by New York Public Radio as one of America's Top Five Most Scenic Music Festivals, Salt Bay Chamberfest is celebrate 20 years of great chamber music in a beautiful setting with a Musical Lobster Bake on Thursday, August 14 at 5 p.m. at Darrows Barn in Damariscotta.

In addition to a traditional Maine Lobster Bake, guests may observe or participate in a chamber music reading session with Salt Bay Chamberfest musicians. Attendees are encouraged to bring a musical instrument if they play one.

Remaining festival concerts will be held on August 8, 12 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Darrows Barn at Round Top Farm in Damariscotta, 3 Round Top Lane, off  Route 1. Pre-concert talks by Mark Mandarano will begin at 6:30 p.m.

A variety of Education & Community Engagement programs are available.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $5 for students, and two subscription levels are available. Lobster Bake Tickets begin at $50. For more information, visit www.saltbaychamberfest.org or call 207-522-3749.

Concert and Lobster Bake tickets are available at www.saltbaychamberfest.org or by calling BrownPaperTickets at 1-800-838-3006.

This special evening of chamber music is sponsored by Cellardoor Winery and is underwritten by the Family and Friends of David Smith.