By Patricia Platt

The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, running from July 3 until Aug. 22, will present an exciting season of classical, innovative and international music. This summer, the Brentano Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, Ying Quartet and the Horszowski Trio are among those who will perform during weekend concerts and serve as artist-in-residence mentors to the fellows who attend the six-week Yale Norfolk Summer Music School.

The festival attracts approximately 35 fellows from around the world who come to Norfolk and receive daily coaching from the members of the visiting quartets as well as distinguished Yale faculty. “We think of ourselves as a teaching festival where the most talented students from around the world come to study chamber music and have opportunities to perform alongside the faculty,” explained Melvin Chen, the festival’s director. As one former fellow commented, “Attending Norfolk has been a highlight of my musical schooling. The phenomenal campus, caliber of musicianship and tradition of excellent performances all contribute to a summer I’m thankful to have experienced.” The fellows perform during the free Emerging Artist Series concerts that are held on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, as well as join their mentors on stage during some weekend concerts.

“This summer’s programs are organized around the theme of anniversaries and will celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the 120th birthday of our Music Shed and other occasions,” Chen said. “Concerts will reflect significant milestones for musical works, composers, artists or countries.” He noted that an entire concert on Aug. 1 will be devoted to the remarkable year of 1826, when Beethoven completed his final quartet, Schubert wrote his Rondeau Brillante and the 17-year-old Mendelssohn produced his String Quintet No. 1.

The Chamber Music Festival will open with a special event on July 9 with “An Evening of Shubert.’’ Some highlights of the Friday and Saturday night concerts include the Brentano Quartet on July 11 and July 18, the Shanghai Quartet on July 24, the Horszowski Trio on Aug. 7 and the Ying Quartet on Aug. 14. Augustin Hadelich, a Grammy award winner and one of the most admired violinists performing today, will perform at the annual gala on July 25. “An evening with him will be an incredible experience you won’t want to miss,” Chen said.

“Musical Bridges” is a multiyear project in which the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival commissions new works that place classical chamber music within a broader musical and cultural context. This year’s concert on Aug. 8, will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At its center is a new work inspired by the American West by Nahre Sol, a classically trained pianist and composer with more than 800,000 followers on YouTube. “We are starting an exciting new annual collaboration with the American fashion brand Bode, which will include a new commission,” said Robert Whipple, the festival’s general manager.

The season finale features choral works spanning the Renaissance to the 21st century performed by the Norfolk Festival Chamber Choir and Orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 22. The concert is the culmination of a week-long workshop for 24 advanced choral conductors and singers directed by Jeffrey Douma, professor in the Practice of Choral Music at the Yale School of Music.

The festival offers a variety of free concerts and events. Preconcert conversations, during which Chen and professors talk with festival artists, take place at the Battell Recital Hall each Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. before concerts. Master classes and open rehearsals welcome audiences on select Wednesdays that will be announced on the website.

The fellows present their free concerts, the Emerging Artist Series, throughout the festival on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. In addition, a New Music Workshop will be held the week before the Chamber Music Festival begins. Under the direction of composer Martin Bresnick, 12 fellows, six composers and six instrumentalists will participate in a series of coaching sessions, master classes and rehearsals that culminate in a special new music performance of their compositions on Friday, July 3.

The festival’s popular open house will be held on Sunday, Aug. 2, featuring a concert for children, ice cream social, tours of Whitehouse, and the annual Norfolk Artists & Friends show. These events are free and take place on the festival ground starting at 11 a.m. The festival welcomes community volunteers as ushers for Friday and Saturday night concerts and to help at post-concert receptions. Volunteers receive free concert tickets. Contact Jen Pfaltz at Norfolk@yale.edu. More information on the Chamber Music Festival can be found on the festival’s website: https://norfolkmusic.org/