Buzzards Bay Musicfest returns for its 19th year with concerts from July 8 to 12 at the Fireman Performing Arts Center at Tabor Academy, 235 Front Street. The series opens and closes with orchestral concerts, with two chamber music concerts and a jazz performance held in-between. Each year brings new works from a variety of composers, performed by nationally and internationally prominent musicians.

This year’s selections will include works by Mozart, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Bach and Beethoven. A highlight of the festival is the Open Rehearsal for Children, which provides, for many kids, their first classical music experience. It includes a post-rehearsal meet and greet session with the Musicfest's Guest Maestro Andrés Cárdenes as well as its many performers and Artistic Director Charles Stegeman.

While the Open Rehearsal for Children has long been a popular component of the Musicfest, a relatively new feature is its evening of jazz. This new tradition began in 2014, when a performance by Sean Jones was added to the concert series as a complement to the classical focus of the Musicfest’s offerings.

As trumpeter, bandleader, educator and composer, the multi-talented Jones boasts an impressive resume. Having spent six years as lead trumpeter of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Jones also ventured into education at Duquesne University, becoming associate professor of jazz. In 2012, he also became professor of trumpet at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and served as artistic director of both the Pittsburgh and Cleveland Jazz Orchestras.

In 2014, Jones left Pittsburgh to become chair of the brass department at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Of the musician, Berklee President Roger H. Brown said, “Sean Jones brings an amazing portfolio to Berklee — performances at the highest level with the greatest musicians of his and prior generations, successful teaching experience, personal commitment and integrity as an artist, and a desire to help foster future great contemporary musicians.” Jones will perform at Tabor on Saturday, July 11.

The 2015 Buzzards Bay Musicfest begins with its Open Rehearsal for Children (with accompanying adult) on Wednesday, July 8 at 2:30 p.m. Orchestral performances will be held Wednesday, July 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 12 at 2 p.m. Chamber music performances will be held Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10 at 8 p.m. A jazz performance by the Sean Jones Quartet will be held Saturday, July 11th at 8 p.m. For more information on giving opportunities, the BBMF International Performance Institute (July 6 to 12) or the performances, visit www.buzzardsbaymusicfest.com or email info@buzzardsbaymusicfest.com.