Preludes, Overtures and Appetizers
September 27, 2026 - 3pm
Blue Valley North High School
12200 Lamar Ave, Overland Park, KS 66209
Overtures and preludes are often the musical appetizer to an opera, ballet, or stage production. They introduce themes, melodies, and emotions that will appear throughout the performance. Interestingly, the overture is often the last piece a composer writes. Sometimes, however, an overture stands on its own as a complete concert work—almost like a miniature symphony, as in this overture by Brahms.
The Prelude to La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Overture to Fidelio, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Academic Festival Overture, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Overture to Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes, Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Ensemble Musicians
Winds & Percussion
Flute
Janet Braggs
Audrey Watson
Deana Wagnoner##
Oboe
Amelia Stern
Pat Ketter
Clarinet
Valerie Reese
Amber Scruton
Bassoon
John Bennet
Karen Schmidt
Rob Gray (Contrabassoon)
French Horn
Micaela Barber
Angelica Sandry
Katherine Kashka
Laura Woosely
Trumpet
Jon Ward
Nicholas Kashka
Kim Harrison
Trombone
Tyler Thomason
Nathan Brown ##
Josue Molina
Tuba
Adrian Gutierrez, Jr
Timpani
Jonathan Huhn
Percussion
Mitch Shulfer
Mason McBride
Brandon Wells
Matt Shoaf
Strings
Violin I
Kevin Hao*##
Bill Hetrick
Mirah Nash
Erin Daffer
Jennie Funk
Kat Forster Parks
Robyn Truster
Violin II
Nathaniel Quiroz*
Mike Arbucci
Emily Goering
Carter Vleisides
Michele Mooney##
Aurora Goldsmith##
Kristin Davies
Viola
Beth Macleod*
Jacob Price
Heather Franklin
Lynette Fonner
Savanna Wade##
Cello
Seungchan Song*##
Daphne Brandt
Thomas Troughton
Bass
Barron Weir*
Ray Thompson
Courtney Boutwell
*section leader
## New to WE
Mustang Orchestra Chamber Symphony
Joining Westwood Ensemble on Verdi, Brahms
Violin I
Evan Nugent
Aidan Yang
Ariel Yeh
Ryan Huska
Ethan Li
Shreeya Iyer
Violin II
Gabriel Ledgerwood
Hannah Chan
Hattie Young
Madeleine Koch
Claire Messerli
Sindhuja Rama
Viola
Jasper Kim
Lily Fischbach
Sidney Butler
Meng Meng Barua
Cello
Varun Kabra
Paul Burfeind
Laney McGill
Gabriel Roman Chavez
Ellie Whitaker
Bass
Ella Rohe
Minky's Slice of Donation
Eat Pizza, Support Westwood Ensemble!
Enjoy a slice on Sunday, September 27 (10:30 AM – 10:00 PM) at Minsky's Pizza on Metcalf. 20% of sales go back to the Ensemble!
Dine-in, carryout, or delivery.
Just mention Westwood Ensemble when you order (if ordering online, call 913-839-0022 right after to confirm). Plus, stop by around 4:30 PM for our post-concert Meet & Greet!
CAN’T ATTEND OR WANT TO HELP RAISE EVEN MORE?
Order lunch for your office or place a catering order the week of the
Slice of Donation event and Minsky’s will still contribute 20%
Just ask your cashier when calling your order in.