Critic's picks
CLASSICAL MUSIC
“SICK PUPPY’’ This annual new-music seminar at New England Conservatory draws its memorable nickname from its acronym, SICPP, or the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice. Jonathan Harvey is this year’s composer-in-residence and his works are featured in free programs at 8 p.m. June 19, and the SICPP Iditarod June 20, with six hours of music by Ives, Stockhausen, Takemitsu, Lukas Foss, Steve Reich, Chinary Ung, and many others. New England Conservatory, 617-585-1122, www.sicpp.org
SO PERCUSSION This high-octane percussion quartet opens the 40th season of the Yellow Barn Music Festival, with works by John Cage, Cenk Ergun, and Nicole Lizee. June 21 at 8 p.m., $22, Big Barn, Putney, Vt., 800-639-3819 or www.yellowbarn.org
ROCKPORT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual June festival continues with a piano four-hands duo with Mia Chung and Alina Polyakov June 19, a piano trio with Gilles Vonsattel (piano), Frank Huang (violin), and Nicolas Altstaedt (cello) playing Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Haydn June 20; and the Newberry Consort with works by Purcell and Handel June 21. $22-$40, Rockport Art Association, 978-546-7391 or www.rockportmusic.org
TANGLEWOOD STRING QUARTET MARATHON
Forget the brass fanfares: The students and young professionals at the Tanglewood Music Center launch the new summer season with three programs full of nothing but string quartets. June 22 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m., $11, Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall, 617-266-1200 or www.bso.org 