Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School announces its schedule for Winter and Spring concerts in 2025-26. Muddy Boots Concerts are free.

Bay Chamber provides the following descriptions.

Midday Music Series: Strings Attached

Friday, January 23 at 1 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/noraandmarlene

In this inventive program, cellist Nora Willauer and pianist Marlene McCarthy explore the sparks of creativity born from close artistic relationships in the 20th century. From the youthful brilliance of Benjamin Britten’s First Cello Suite to the many colors of Maurice Ravel’s Miroirs, and much more. A much-loved artist and educator, Nora Willauer has a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music. A piano faculty member at Bay Chamber Music School, Marlene McCarthy has a Doctor of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University and is a former adjunct instructor at NYU’s Steinhardt School. Nora says each piece in their Midday Music program carries “a spicy compositional history.” Through storytelling between pieces, Nora and Marlene lay out how these masterpieces emerged from artistic friendships, love, and collaboration.

Coffee and cookies served before the concert.

FREE Muddy Boots Concert: Nora & Marlene

Saturday, January 24 at 11 am, Hammer Hall

*No Registration necessary

Join cellist Nora Willauer and pianist Marlene McCarthy for the first FREE concert of this season’s Muddy Boots Series. Designed to expose children to a variety of musical styles played by some of the nation’s finest musicians, the concerts have a laid-back vibe. Audience members are encouraged to move and dance. No need to sit still here. Through interactive storytelling and live performance, Nora and Marlene open a window into the relationships between composers and their music, explaining that creativity often grows out of friendship. Expect laughter, curiosity, and a lively introduction to the cello, piano, and the joy of making music together.

Becca Biggs

Sunday, February 8 at 4 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3j6xhx5k

Midcoast songwriter Becca Biggs has carved out a distinctive voice over the past decade, blending her Tennessee roots with a sound that is intimate and gritty. Her songs balance emotion and storytelling, driven by a voice that resonates with authenticity. For this Maine Music Series concert, Becca is joined by an all-star band of seasoned collaborators: guitarist J.R. Braugh, drummer Sam Yawdik, and bassist/guitarist Zack Bence. Together they create a dynamic mix of folk, alt-country, and rock.

Midday Music Series: Trio Oko

Friday, March 20 at 1 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/yvzvemkk

You probably haven’t heard anything quite like Trio Oko. The eclectic harp trio is a rare bird in the chamber music world. And its three musicians use the unique instrumentation to dazzle. “Their concert indeed evoked joy, demonstrated profound communication, and displayed the strengths of each instrument via thoughtful choices of timbre, articulation, dynamic contrast, and balance,” writes The Boston Musical Intelligencer. “Three accomplished individuals playing as a seamless ensemble.” Trio Oko’s members, violinist Emma Powell, cellist Mina Kim, and harpist Charles Overton, are united by a mutual belief in the power of music to create meaningful human connections. The Boston-based trio met at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2016.

FREE Muddy Boots Concert: Trio Oko

Saturday, March 21 at 11 am, Hammer Hall

*No registration necessary

Join us for the second FREE concert of this season’s Muddy Boots Series. This time, children get to hear the glorious strains of harp music. Eclectic harp ensemble Trio Oko is a rare bird in the chamber music world. And its three musicians use the unique instrumentation to dazzle.

Trio Oko’s members, violinist Emma Powell, cellist Mina Kim, and harpist Charles Overton, are united by a mutual belief in the power of music to create meaningful human connections, which is warmly shared with audiences. Children will love the lush harmonies anchored by the harp. They will learn how it works and how the three instruments make beautiful sound together.

Designed to expose children to a variety of musical styles played by some of the nation’s finest musicians, the concerts have a laid back vibe. Audience members are encouraged to move and dance. No need to sit still and no need to register. Join us for a morning of joy and learning!

Midday Music Series: Danny Holt, piano

Friday, April 3 at 1 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/2e2a57fb

After his spectacular performance in the series last season, Danny Holt returns to Hammer Hall with a solo piano program that bridges concert hall and club. Known for his dazzling virtuosity, Danny performs around the globe in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as in clubs and art galleries. He has collaborated with ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Blue Man Group, the Bang on a Can All- Stars, and the Calder Quartet, earning acclaim for his adventurous spirit and versatility. For this program, Holt brings together contemporary works influenced by jazz, rock, and popular music. From Jon Batiste’s reimagined Beethoven and Chopin to the driving rhythms of Karen Tanaka’s Techno Etudes to the boundary-pushing improvisations of Mike Garson (best known for his work with David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails,) Danny crafts a musical journey full of soul and invention.

Coffee and cookies served before the concert.

Muddy Boots Concert: Danny Piano Adventures with Danny

Saturday, April 4 at 11 am, Hammer Hall

No registration necessary

Pianist Danny Holt is not only a virtuoso performer but also a gifted educator with a flair for making music come alive for young audiences. In this special Muddy Boots family concert, he shares the piano’s amazing range — from whispering melodies to thunderous rhythms — through an interactive, playful program designed for children and their families. Danny encourages young audiences to explore how the piano can sound jazzy, rocky, classical, and everything in between. Expect laughter, curiosity, and hands-on fun with an imaginative and engaging performer.

John David Adams & Morgan Lee

Thursday April 16 at 7 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3k6wts85

Distinguished bass-baritone John David Adams joins fellow Bay Chamber Music School faculty member pianist Morgan Lee for an evening of music-making that combines virtuosity, warmth, and imagination. Their program includes Mozart’s concert aria for bass, Per questa bella mano, K.612, as well as a world premiere of the song set Nothing Gold Can Stay by Maine composer Aaron Robinson. John is a versatile and accomplished artist, acclaimed as a powerful concert soloist and recitalist, equally praised for opera and stage roles. Morgan is an accomplished performer and educator whose artistry has been heard on the national and international stage, admired for her clarity and expressive range. Join us for a concert that offers the chance to experience artistry that is both timeless and brand new.

Halcyon String Quartet

Thursday May 1 at 1 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3k6wts85

The much-loved Halcyon String Quartet, based in Maine, is well known for its programs that weave together music, film, and storytelling to explore our changing times: climate crisis, community building, the quest for common values. For its Bay Chamber Midday Music concert, Halcyon performs its new multimedia project: The Future is Here, with music by Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Philip Glass, and Caroline Shaw. This innovative program features film and stop- motion animation by Halcyon’s Luke Fatora. It spotlights Mainers building regenerative, resilient communities.

Coffee and cookies served before the concert.

FREE Muddy Boots Concert: Halcyon String Quartet

Thursday May 2 at 11 am, Hammer Hall

No registration required

The Halcyon String Quartet brings their creativity and imagination to a special Muddy Boots concert designed for children and their families. With warmth and playfulness, the ensemble introduces young listeners to the sounds of the string quartet while exploring themes of nature, community, and care for our world. Through live performance, storytelling, and interactive elements, Halcyon demonstrates how music can spark curiosity, reflection, and joy. During the concert, audience members are free to move and dance.

ARKAI

Friday, May 14 at 7 pm, Hammer Hall

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3k6wts85

Name a major concert venue in the US. ARKAI has probably played there. The award-winning violin-cello duo has hit the big time, performing at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The Met among many other prestigious venues. ARKAI has even opened for John Batiste. The duo is also redefining what chamber music can be in the 21st century, taking the beautiful tones of the violin and cello into epic soundscapes, something like a rock band backed by a full orchestra. For its much-anticipated return to Bay Chamber, ARKAI brings a program that traverses centuries and styles with reimagined classics and original music.

FREE Muddy Boots Concert: The ARKAI Experience

Saturday May 15 at 11 am, Hammer Hall

* No registration required

Join ARKAI violin-cello duo for a joyful and interactive concert designed for children and their families. With acoustic and electric instruments (and a playful spirit) Jonathan and Philip immerse young listeners in a kaleidoscope of sound, from melodies to pulsing rhythms. Blending music with storytelling and musical games, ARKAI introduces children to the magic of strings. Children will learn how acoustic and electronic instruments work and have a great time moving around the room and dancing. Join us for a morning of musical adventure!