A highlight of the summer for area concert lovers, the Festival series is noted for presenting a wide array of classical works, both traditional and contemporary, performed by some of the country’s finest artists. Music Director Laurie Kennedy is highly regarded for designing programs that are stunning in variety and excitement. Whether you are a fan of Beethoven, British music, or Benny Goodman, you will find music to enjoy.

This summer, musicians are coming from the LA Philharmonic, the Cincinnati, North Carolina, Indianapolis, Omaha and Portland Symphonies; the New York City Opera and Ballet; the Orpheus and St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestras; The Boston Chamber Music Society; Apollo’s Fire; UCLA, and the University of Iowa. These performers are stars in the world of classical music.

The first concert of the season, Beethoven Fest, honors the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s approaching 90th anniversary, and features principal players from the PSO. This fall the PSO is starting a three-year cycle of all nine Beethoven Symphonies, as part of the 90th celebration. In collaboration, SLLMF is also starting a Beethoven cycle — all nine piano trios in three years.

The concert begins with the Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1 No. 3. This early trio of Beethoven foreshadows some of the characteristics of his later works — dramatic first and last movements, theme and variations, and the signature key of C Minor. It is not his first effort, as the opus number might indicate, but the work of an experienced composer. It is full of innovation and surprises.

Performers are Alice Hallstrom, associate concertmaster of the PSO, Elizabeth Anderson, until recently, associate principal cellist of the NYC Opera, and pianist Stephen Manes, the only musician who has been performing with SLLMF since the inaugural season in 1973.

The program continues with Carl Reinecke’s Trio in B-Flat Major for horn, clarinet and piano, an unusual combination of instruments. Reinecke, whose music in not often performed today, was well-known in his day — the latter part of the 19th century and early 1900s — as a concert artist, teacher and prolific composer.

Joining Stephen Manes, are PSO principals, Thomas Parchman, clarinet and John Boden, French horn. Concluding this concert is another early work of Beethoven, his Septet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 for strings and winds, a perennial favorite, which will be familiar to many in the audience. Joining their PSO colleagues and Elizabeth Anderson, are principal bassoon, Janet Polk, principal bass, Joseph Holt, and principal viola, Laurie Kennedy. This concert is a joyous, delicious feast of early Beethoven, mixed with some luscious late Romantic Music.

Tickets for the concerts at Deertrees are $100 for the series of five concerts, and $25 for individual concerts. Tickets for anyone 21 and under are free.

For more information, visit www.sebagomusicfestival.org or call 207-583-6747.