The Bowdoin International Music Festival, which has presented distinguished classical musicians from around the world in Brunswick since 1964, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season. Special programs will include the complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, performed by four of America’s greatest string quartets; premieres of commissioned works by Kaija Saariaho, Vivian Fung, Sebastian Currier and Samuel Adler; and performances by Sarah Chang, Ray Chen, Ilya Kaler, Suyoen Kim, David Requiro, Eric Zuber and many others.

Mondays: The Beethoven String Quartet Cycle

The Brentano, Pacifica, Shanghai and Ying Quartets will present the Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, widely considered one of the greatest creative achievements in the history of Western culture, in the Bowdoin Festival’s Monday night series. Monday Beethoven String Quartet concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Crooker Theater, from June 30 to August 4. Tickets are $40.

Wednesday Upbeat!

The Wednesday Upbeat! series features a varied repertoire of traditional and modern works performed in an informal atmosphere. Works commissioned for the 2014 series will include Matter and Light by Kaija Saariaho, a piano trio featuring Jennifer Koh, violin; String Quartet No. 10 by Samuel Adler, performed by the Cassatt Quartet; a work for multiple percussionists by Vivian Fung; and a work for solo violin by Sebastian Currier. Classics by Bach, Brahms, Schubert, Strauss and others will also be presented. Wednesday Upbeat! concerts will be held each Wednesday from July 2 to August 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Studzinski Recital Hall. Tickets are $40.

Festival Fridays

The Festival’s premier series, Festival Fridays, features resident and guest artists in performances of works by Bach, Brahms, Crumb, Debussy, Dvořák, Ravel, Mozart and more. The Friday evening concerts will include concerto performances by violinists Sarah Chang (Dvořák), Ilya Kaler (Brahms), Suyoen Kim (Mozart), and Ray Chen with cellist David Requiro (Brahms), and pianist Eric Zuber (Bach). Festival Friday concerts will be held each Friday from July 4 through August 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Crooker Theater. Tickets are $40.

For up to date program information, including student performances, visit www.bowdoinfestival.org or call 207-725-3895 for a free copy of the season brochure.