Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster
Prior to being named concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony, Mr. Iwasaki has served in the same position with the Canton Symphony Orchestra for the past two years. He has appeared as a soloist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Richardson Symphony and the Plano Symphony Orchestra. This year he was selected as the sole participant for the Concertmaster Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music by Cleveland Orchestra Concertmaster William Preucil.
Born in Tokyo, Jun began violin study at the age of five and by twelve made his solo debut with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. He went on to win numerous concerto competitions and awards. In 2005 he won first prize in string division at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition and was awarded grand prize at the same competition in 2002. In addition, Jun has served as concertmaster of Asian Artists and Concerts Orchestra (AAC) and guest concertmaster of the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa in 2006. Recent chamber music engagements include a performance in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and a solo recital in Tokyo and Sapporo, Japan. Jun also participated in a chamber music recital tour throughout Japan in 2004.
His Bachelor and Master of Music degrees are from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Preucil. Former teachers include Philip Lewis, founder and artistic director of Chamber Music International and Betsy Jones, violinist with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.