Music of the Mediterranean
Nov 15, 2026 - 3pm
Shawnee Mission West High School
8800 W 85th St, Overland Park, KS 66212
Olive Oil or Butter
This concert features music inspired by the cultures of France, Italy, and Spain. Although Carmen was written by the French composer Bizet, its story takes place in Spain and is filled with Spanish color and passion.
Just as each country has its own musical character, each has its own culinary traditions. Italy and Spain are famous for heart-healthy olive oil, while French cuisine often highlights rich butter. Listen for the energy of a French march and the excitement of a lively galop.
Overture to La Gazza Ladra, Gioachino Antonio Rossini (1792-1868)
Carmen Suite No. 1, Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
"Méditation" from Thaïs, Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (1842-1912)
Featuring Jun Iwasaki
"Marche militaire française" from Suite algérienne, Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
"Galop infernal" (Can-Can) from Orphée aux enfers, Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
Ensemble Musicians
Winds & Percussion
Flute
Janet Braggs
Julia Craig (Piccolo)
Maren Tims##
Oboe
Amelia Stern
Laura Woolsey (English Horn)
Amy Schwartz
Clarinet
Valerie Reese
Amber Scruton##
Bailee Young##
Bassoon
John Bennet
Amy Knudsen
Evan Short (Contrabassoon)##
French Horn
Jesus Garcia Palacios##
Katherine Kashka
Audrey Hartwell
Trumpet
Kim Harrison
Dave Hershberger
Jon Ward##
Trombone
Katrina Blumberg
Fred Zimmerman
Josue Molina
Tuba
Adrian Gutierrez, Jr
Timpani
Tim Schwab
Percussion
Matt Shoaf
Strings
Violin I
Can Balcik-Moretti*
Nadine Rowen
Bill Hetrick
Luis Alvarado
Mackenzie Burroff
Daniel Hanneman
Hannah Hillyer (Harp)
Violin II
Snow Zhang*
Michael Arbucci
Erin Daffer
Carter Vleisides##
Ryan Zhao ##
Robyn Truster
Ananya Pawar##
Viola
Beth Macleod*
Jacob Price
Lynette Fonner
Lynda Kreienheder##
Cello
Samantha Bianculli*
Amanda Borders
Lisa Hamrick
Bass
Andrew Bowels*
Leo Hovey
Sarahi Gonzalez Sanchez
Courtney Boutwell##
*section leader
## New to WE
Violin Soloist
Jun Iwasaki
Jun Iwasaki serves as concertmaster of the Kansas City Symphony, a position he has held since the 2022/23 season. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music’s prestigious Concertmaster Academy, he is widely praised for his combination of dazzling technique and lyrical musicianship. In a review of Iwasaki’s performance at the Mimir Chamber Music Festival, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram called him “the magician of the evening. He could reach into his violin and pull out bouquets of sound, then reach behind your ear and touch your soul.”
Prior to joining the Kansas City Symphony, Iwasaki served as concertmaster of the Nashville Symphony from 2011 to 2022 and the Oregon Symphony from 2007 to 2011. Throughout his career, he has appeared with numerous other orchestras, including the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Blossom Festival Orchestra, Rome (Georgia) Philharmonic, New Bedford Symphony, Canton Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra and Huntsville Symphony. In addition, he has served as guest concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Gulbenkian Orchestra (Portugal), São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (Brazil), Santa Barbara Symphony, National Arts Center Orchestra (Ottawa) and Canton (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Jun has been a part of the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, La Jolla Summerfest, Chamber Music Northwest, Mainly Mozart, Chamber Music International and Mimir Chamber Music Festival, among others.
In addition to teaching at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, Iwasaki also served as the artistic director of Portland Summer Ensembles in Portland, Oregon, a workshop for young musicians focusing on chamber music.