The prevailing theme throughout the year will be one of “home”. Our soloists are current and former Ottumwans who have continued to do great things in the field of music either by performing or composing or both.

The October concert will be a celebration of Duke Ellington featuring Dan Knight on piano and we thought David Sharp would be a perfect fit to lead this concert. The orchestra will perform several well-known compositions by Ellington including The River, a multi-movement piece depicting characteristics of a river. Dan Knight, jazz pianist, is adapting and arranging a medley of additional Ellington tunes into one composition and the performance of it by the Ottumwa Symphony will be its “world premiere”.

There will be several changes this year-some taking place right away and some taking effect throughout the year. We look forward to an exciting 25^th Anniversary Season and we’d be very happy if you could be part of it.

Patty Babb, Manager