Concert includes works by Gabriela Lena Frank, Tania León, and Leonard Bernstein

WEST BARNSTABLE, MA—October 26, 2026

The Cape Symphony Orchestra is delighted to present Music from West Side Story and the Americas on November 14 and 15, 2026 at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center. Music Director Alyssa Wang will conduct. Cynthia López Olaya and Wesley Carman will join the Orchestra as guest vocalists.

The concert will begin with works by two highly acclaimed contemporary American composers. Gabriela Lena Frank and Tania León have both won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Frank’s compositions explore her multicultural background, especially her indigenous Peruvian heritage; Three Latin American Dances evokes the spirit and energy of pan-Amazonian cultures and dance forms. León has been commissioned by leading orchestras worldwide, and was a recent composer in residence for the London Philharmonic. Cape Symphony will perform Pasajes, inspired by Caribbean culture and her exuberant Cuban childhood.

After intermission, the Orchestra will perform Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances and Concert Suite No. 1. Dances is a nine-movement orchestral adaptation of the West Side Story score, perfectly encapsulating its emotional intensity and diverse styles for the concert audience. Soprano Cynthia López Olaya and tenor Wesley Carman will join the Orchestra for the musical’s most well-loved songs, including “Maria,” “One Hand, One Heart,” “Somewhere,” and “Balcony Scene (Tonight).”

“I was thinking of America’s 250th year when programming this concert,” said Music Director Alyssa Wang. “Part of what makes West Side Story so beloved is that it embraces musical stylings from Puerto Rico and Latin America. It made sense to pair Bernstein with works by two living American composers famous for melding classical music with Latin American musical traditions. The result is an all-American program, with the dance rhythms of our southern neighbors threading it all together.”

Music from West Side Story and the Americas will be performed Saturday, November 14 at 4:00 PM and Sunday, November 15 at 3:00 PM at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center, 744 West Main Street, Hyannis. Ticketholders are invited to an entertaining and informative talk about the concert program given by Assistant Conductor Joe Marchio beginning one hour before each performance.

For tickets, visit www.capesymphony.org, call the Cape Symphony Box Office at 508.362.1111, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit the Box Office at 2235 Iyannough Road in West Barnstable, Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Tickets for students aged 6–22 are discounted 50%; those for active and retired military are discounted 20%. Only tickets purchased on Cape Symphony’s secure website or through the Cape Symphony Box Office are legitimate and guaranteed.

The Cape Symphony Orchestra’s Classical series concerts are sponsored by Cape Cod 5.

Media Contact:
Susan Sundermeyer, Marketing Content Manager
508-367-8918; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cape Arts & Entertainment is one of the largest professional cultural organizations in Massachusetts. We inspire, educate, and connect our community through exceptional music and inclusive outreach programs. The Cape Symphony Orchestra presents a diverse classical and pops repertoire at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center, while Cape Symphony Presents brings world-class artists of many genres to venues across the Cape & Islands. Cape Symphony Conservatory & Preschool offers private and group instruction for all ages in West Barnstable, Falmouth, and Brewster; Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus programs; and an acclaimed arts-infused curriculum for preschoolers in West Barnstable. Rooted in creativity, excellence, community, and lifelong learning, all three branches of CAE enrich lives through the power of music. Visit www.capesymphony.org for more information.