A concert starring MacArthur “Genius” Award-recipient flutist Claire Chase will highlight the final week of this year’s 29th annual Salt Bay Chamberfest, an acclaimed chamber music festival centered in Damariscotta. The 2023 season, called Goddess, will come to a grand conclusion with an exciting performance on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Damariscotta’s Lincoln Theater. In addition, free events will take place on Aug. 17 and 19.

Aug. 19, Chase will perform works for various kinds of flutes written specifically for her in the last 10 years. On one piece, she will be joined by local amateur flutists, including several school-age students. She will play works by living composers Liza Lim, Suzanne Farrin, Du Yun, and Pauline Oliveros. Described by The New York Times as “the most important flutist of our time,” Chase has presented the world premieres of hundreds of new works. In addition to being a MacArthur Fellow, she is a Professor of the Practice at Harvard University, and was the Debs Creative Chair at Carnegie Hall in the 2022-23 season.

The concert will conclude with Schubert’s famous “Death and the Maiden” String Quartet, performed by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Minnesota Orchestra musicians: violinists Sean Lee and Susie Park; violist Che-Yen Chen; and cellist and Artistic Director of the Festival, Wilhelmina Smith.

Composer Dawn Avery, along with SBC musicians, will travel to Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness in Bangor on Thursday, Aug. 17, for a free presentation exploring her music and Native American culture there.

The festival’s final free event is a master class led by violinist Sean Lee, who will coach promising young local musicians. Open to anyone to watch, it takes place on Friday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. in Porter Hall at Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta.

The Festival at a glance: Wednesday, Aug. 16: Festival Concert 3 repeat - 7:30 p.m. at Strand Theater, Rockland, with a 6:30 pm pre-concert talk; Thursday, Aug.17: Composer talk and performance featuring Dawn Avery  -1 p.m. at Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness in Bangor;  Saturday, Aug.19: Master class with Sean Lee - violin 1 p.m. at Skidompha Public Library; Festival Concert 4 - 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Theater, with a 6:30 pm pre-concert talk.

More information and tickets can be found at www.saltbaychamberfest.org.