community engagement
Throughout the year, we connect musicians from our concerts series and music school faculty with people across the state in a wide variety of ways, including The Lullaby Project through Carnegie Hall, master classes with renowned musicians, instrument "petting zoos," student matinee performances and much more. Each year, Bay Chamber offers over 20 free performances from Jazz on the Water, concerts on the Camden Village Green, student recitals and more. We also present free concerts in alternative settings where access to live music is limited - to inmates and staff of the Maine State Prison system, to residents in asssited living facilities, in rural communities and more.
Lullaby Project songwriting workshop.
Lullaby project
Since 2013, Bay Chamber has partnered with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute and Maine’s Wayfinder Schools’ Passages Program to offer The Lullaby Project to Maine teenagers facing the challenges of parenting at an early age. The program guides young parents to compose an original piece of music for their baby with the support of a team of teaching artists from the Music School faculty. This creative and collaborative undertaking fosters communication between parents and baby, encourages caregiving, and bolsters self-esteem. The program concludes with a celebration of the lullabies, and parents receive a professionally produced recording of all the lullabies to share with their families.
Piano Battle performs at the Camden Opera House.
free student matinees
Bay Chamber Music School is pleased to offer opportunities for students to attend special, free performances by world-renowned musicians and artists. Our matinees take place at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, the Strom Auditorium in Rockport and the Camden and Rockport Opera Houses. Students travel from as far away as Milo and the Fox Islands, to our local schools in the Five Town district. The programs are offered at no charge to the participating schools, and have enabled thousands of students to experience the excitement of live performances over the years.
Music outside the windows at Quarry Hill in Camden.
community concerts
From concerts in the Maine State Prison to summer concerts on Rockport Harbor and the Camden Village Green, we are devoted to sharing music with our community. Music School students have performed at Merryspring, Beech Hill, Pen Bay Hospital and at many other local spaces. In summer 2020, Music School students and faculty have shared music through the windows at Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill, an assisted living facility in Camden. These weekly serenades were a meaningful opportunity for students to foster connection, healing and joy.
