Musicians come from all over the country and the world to play in the Buzzards Bay Musicfest, and that means one thing – they don’t get much time to practice together.

But even with only two rehearsals for each concert, the musicians still made time for young instrumentalists on Wednesday afternoon with the Children's Rehearsal.

“We’ve done the [Children's Rehearsal] for a long time, so that kids from the South Coast have the opportunity to experience the rehearsal of a world class dream team kind of orchestra” said Artistic Director and Co-founder Charles Stegeman.

For the first time this year, Stegeman welcomed kids onto the stage in Tabor Academy’s Fireman Performing Arts Center to literally sit at the feet of the musicians.

Eleane Lima, an 11^th grade oboist from Fall River, was wide-eyed after the experience.

“It’s really cool because you get to sit next to the professional who plays your instrument,” she said. “I could see the music, see where they were playing. It was pretty cool.”

Lima switched from the flute to the oboe about a year ago and said she enjoys learning each new piece. She came with other students who are part of the Acushnet Classic Ensemble.

“What I like about playing is there’s always a challenge,” she said.

Stegeman said the Children’s Rehearsal is meant to give kids a taste of what hard work can accomplish.

“All of us worked five to seven hours a day for twenty years as children to get to where we are now,” he said.

During the intermission, Stegeman answered questions from the students. A handful of kids and teens will get hands-on time with the musicians during the Musicfest’s first International Performance Institute. Seven students, including two from Vietnam and two from Dartmouth, will participate in the intensive weeklong program.

The Musicfest itself, which offers all of its concerts for free to the public, is a way for young musicians to get exposure to classical and jazz music.

Along with sponsors, Stegeman said, “This is a regional asset which Tabor Academy wants to share with the community. They wanted to make it as accessible as possible for anybody who wanted to attend. Free concerts, that’s a good way to do it.”

The Musicfest schedule is as follows:

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 takes place Saturday, July 11 at 8 p.m. All concerts are the Fireman Performing Arts Center at Tabor Academy.

Visit www.buzzardsbaymusicfest.com for more information.