MARION — With over 30 musicians poised and ready with bows and instruments in hand, Grammy-award winning conductor JoAnn Falletta commenced the 27th season of the Buzzards Bay Musicfest with a swift motion of her baton, propelling the symphony into Mozart’s Overture from “Le nozze di Figaro.”

The five-day festival began on Wednesday, July 9 with a classical program in the Fireman Performing Arts Center at Tabor Academy.

Jonathan Gunn, principal clarinet of the Buzzards Bay Musicfest Orchestra, said he’s performed at the event since 2017.

“I didn’t really know what to expect my first time and I came here and I loved the place and love all the patrons and the board members,” he said.

He describes returning to the festival as “like sort of coming home.”

Gunn lives in Austin, Texas where he teaches clarinet at the University of Texas at Austin and frequently travels to Chicago where his wife performs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

“It’s a lot of the same people, and I really enjoy making music with all those people,” he said of the musicians at the festival.

Gunn describes working with Falletta at the festival as “really easy” and “very pleasant,” calling her a “great musician and conductor.”

She was named one of the 50 greatest conductors of all time by Gramophone Magazine and currently serves as music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Music Director Laureate of the Virginia Symphony. During her time at The Julliard School, Falletta studied under Leonard Bernstein who went on to mentor her for decades.

“The leadership is just palpable,” said Philip Sanborn, Executive Director of the Buzzards Bay Musicfest.

Wednesday night’s classical program featured Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 2 in D major,” one of his lesser known symphonies.

“Two is much more light [...] but just lovely,” said Gunn.

The orchestra also performed Stamitz’s “Viola Concerto No. 1 in D major” during the evening, showcasing the talents of Basil Vendryes who currently serves as principal viola of the Colorado Symphony.

“I used to play full time in an orchestra for many years, 22 years, before I went to teach full time. I’ve kind of played everything at this point, but this was my first time playing this,” said Gunn of the concerto.

“He’s world-renowned,” said Sanborn of Vendryes.

Chamber music, jazz and another orchestral performance are scheduled for the upcoming festival dates.

On Thursday, July 10, Gunn looks forward to performing Brahms’ “Clarinet Quintet in B Minor” during a night of chamber music.

“Brahms is so much fun to play. It’s incredibly romantic, expressive. I’ve played it a number of times but it always somehow seems to be kind of a bucket list kind of piece to play,” he said.

A nine-piece jazz band will hit the stage on Friday night under Sanborn’s leadership. He describes the performance as “an hour and a half of the history of jazz” that goes “all the way from Scott Joplin to David Brubeck.”

Sanborn emphasizes that musicians from all over the United States travel to play at the festival, including principal french horn player and Los Angeles-based musician James Thatcher.

Thatcher has recorded over 3000 film scores during his career, working with acclaimed composers such as John Williams and John Horner.

“Forrest Gump, Titanic, Jurassic Park, Star Trek, Avatar. I did about 65 films with John Williams and over 60 with Horner,” he said, adding that Williams once stated he was his “favorite guest.”

He also worked with composer Hans Zimmer on film scores for the “Pirates of the Caribeean,” “The Last Samurai” and “Pearl Harbor.”

The music festival is able to feature such well-regarded musicians thanks to a “very strong foundation of generous donors” who help pay the artists and allow the festival to remain free to the public.

“We don’t charge a penny to come to these concerts. [They’re] always free, always open to the public,” said Sanborn.

Further details about the festival, taking place from July 9 to July 13, are available online at www.buzzardsbaymusicfest.com.