DownEast New Music, a new organization dedicated to bringing classical music by living composers and performances by highly accomplished young musicians to DownEast Maine, is thrilled to announce its inaugural season. Performances will run July 7th through July 15th, in Blue Hill and Northeast Harbor with their final performance on Saturday, July 15th at 3:30 pm in the Jesup’s Reading room.

 Over four performances and two weeks, DownEast New Music will celebrate the exciting and diverse body of music that speaks to the lives and experiences of modern audiences. DownEast New Music’s season will showcase music by composers of different generations and cultures, familiar and unique combinations of instruments, rising performers in the field of contemporary classical music, and a chance for all music lovers to gather in scenic DownEast Maine to celebrate the sounds and stories of the classical music of our lifetime.

 The program at the Jesup is titled Celestial Bodies and will feature: Brett Dean, Voices of Angels (1996) for violin, viola, cello, double bass, and piano; Stephen Hartke, King of the Sun (1988) for violin, viola, cello, and piano; Libby Larsen, Up, Where the Air Gets Thin (1985) for cello and double bass; new commission (2023) by DownEast New Music pianist Danny Holt (world premiere).

 Co-artistic directors Clare Monfredo (cello) and Edward Kass (double bass) will be joined by Michelle Barzel Ross (violin), Julia Danitz (violin), Carrie Frey (viola), Danny Holt (piano), Nina Guo (soprano), and Nicholas Tolle (cimbalom)

 The Jesup performance will be free for all. For free tickets, please visit Downeast New Music’s website at DownEast New Music or contact them at downeastnewmusic@gmail.com.