Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra

Music on the Green 2026
2026-06-07 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra invites you to an evening of great music under the open sky. Music on the Green, an event that has become a favorite for attendees, will be held Sunday, June 7th at 7:00 pm on the Marge Dodd Stage at Indian Hills Community College.
Bring a picnic, your favorite beverage, a comfortable chair, and, of course, your friends and family. In case of rain or inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Hellyer Student Life Center directly next to the stage. In the event of cancellation, the public will be notified by 3:00 pm. There is no charge for admission, though a free-will offering will be taken.

Eternal Love
2026-04-18 18:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra performs Bernstein and Tchaikovsky, joined by vocalists Diana Upton-Hill and Justin Hill in an intimate program of love songs, arranged by Associate Conductor David Sharp.

Single Tickets will be available for purchase at the door for just $30. As always, kids 12 and under get in FREE, and all other students are free with a student ID.

Celebrating Youth
2026-02-21 19:30 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Featuring works by Brahms and Copland, you’ll be treated with a performance by the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra and the winner of the annual Young Artist Competition, violinist Ahiko Sugiyama.
Single Tickets will be available for purchase at the door or online via THIS LINK.
As always, kids 12 and under get in FREE, and all other students are free with a student ID.

Iowa's Got Talent!!
2025-10-04 19:30 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Featuring Iowa Composers Jerry Owen, Peter Bloesch, Meredith Willson, and Michael Kimber.
Piano soloist, Dr. Marian Lee will perform Rachmaninoff.
Single Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Or purchase your Season Tickets today, which includes this concert and two others as part of our exciting 39th season.
As always, kids 12 and under get in FREE, and all other students are free with a student ID.

Music on the Green
2025-06-08 19:00 | Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra invites you to an evening of great music under the open sky. Music on the Green, an event that has become a favorite for attendees, will be held Sunday, June 8th at 7:00 pm on the Marge Dodd Stage at Indian Hills Community College.
Bring a picnic, your favorite beverage, a comfortable chair, and, of course, your friends and family. In case of rain or inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Hellyer Student Life Center directly next to the stage. In the event of cancellation, the public will be notified by 3:00 pm. There is no charge for admission, though a free-will offering will be taken.
For more information about the orchestra’s full season, visit this page.

14th Annual 25 Men Who Can Cook
2025-06-07 11:00 - 13:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Attention food (and music) lovers! Join us for our annual 25 Men Who Can Cook event June 7, 2025.

Read all the details HERE.

Spring Concert: Sounds of Italy
2025-05-17 19:30 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Join us for “Sounds of Italy”. Verdi, Mascagni, Tchaikovsky, Respighi and the winner of our annual Young Artist Competition.
To purchase Single Tickets, click HERE. Note: This concert is included in your Season Ticket.

Divas Who Dish 2025
2025-04-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Knights of Columbus Club 888, 123 3rd Street W, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Attention food (and music) lovers! Join us for our annual Divas Who Dish event on April 12, 2025.

More details HERE.

Winter Concert: Today and Tomorrow
2025-03-01 19:30 | Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Join us in celebrating musicians of “Today and Tomorrow”. Rodriguez, Toyama, Holst, and King. Also introducing The Ottumwa Youth Symphony Orchestra!
To purchase Single Tickets, click HERE. Note: This concert is included in your Season Ticket.

Holiday Concert: Ottumwa, Merry & Bright
2024-12-14 19:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Join us for our annual holiday celebration… This year, in conjunction with Bridge View Center, we welcome back our friends: the incomparable Texas Tenors!
Tickets are available now at the Bridge View Center box office or online HERE.
Note: this concert is not part of our three-concert Season 38 concert subscription series.

40th Annual Symphony Ball "Christmas in Paris"
2024-12-07 | The Club, 304 E. Golf Avenue, Ottumwa, IA, 52537, United States
Don your trés chic apparel and dance the night away at the 40th annual holiday ball, hosted by the illustrious Ottumwa Symphony Guild!
BUY TICKETS HERE

Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra Winter Concert
2024-12-01 15:00 - 16:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra invites you to the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra’s winter concert. The event will take place at 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 1, at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. There is no cost for admission, though a free-will donation will be accepted.

The orchestra, now in its third year, is made up of musicians from Ottumwa, Pekin, Davis County, Cardinal, Centerville, Albia, Van Buren and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, and Pella school districts. The students are under the direction of Jilly Cooke.

For more information about participation in the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra, contact orchestra manager Luke Miller via email at lmillerteacher@gmail.com. CLICK HERE to read more about the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Fall Concert: Something Old - Something New
2024-10-05 19:30 | Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Join us for “Something Old – Something New”. Ormandy, Mozart, Brahms, Moncayo and more!
To purchase Single Tickets, click HERE. Or purchase your Season Tickets today, which includes this concert and two others as part of our exciting 38th season.

13th Annual Several Men Who Can Cook
2024-08-03 11:00 - 13:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
GET TICKETS
They’re Coming Back! The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra’s 13th annual Several Men Who Can Cook event returns to Bridge View Center on Saturday, August 3 celebrating its 13th Anniversary. Billed as the “tastiest 2 hours” in Ottumwa, the event draws hundreds of attendees who savor the culinary delights the chefs have prepared and are given the opportunity to vote in the People’s Choice award balloting. The culinary abilities demonstrated by these men is amazing!

Celebrity chefs this year include*:✦ Ashley Abongwa (IHCC Culinary Arts Club)✦ Wilbert Boudreaux (sponsored by Fareway)✦ Ellis Codjoe (Ottumwa Radio)✦ Jose Espinoza (Tortaco Mexican Restaurant)✦ Taylor Grimm (Hy-Vee South)✦ TJ Harris (IHCC Culinary Arts Club)✦ Derek Hedgecock (DRH Services)✦ Austin Jones (John Deere)✦ Randall Lien (Trail Life)✦ Nate Miller (Indian Hills Community College)✦ Alex Morley (Edward Jones)✦ Eric Morley (Edward Jones)✦ Brian Quinn (Mercy Medical Clinic)✦ John Richards (Retired educator)✦ Thomas Roberson (Soul Punch)✦ Shizu Zhou (Shiki Hibachi Sushi)

*Additional chefs may be added to the lineup.

A crowd favorite is the Silent Auction featuring food-related items; check out the ever-evolving list below!
(Sponsors are noted in parentheses.)

✦ Chocolate and vanilla mixes with cocktail mixer, disposable cake pans and recipe cards (Dessert Mixologists)
✦ Chefs Table for 8 (Bridge View Center)
✦ Soup for Six Months, from September through February for 4 adults, to be delivered (Symphony Guild)
✦ Dining Experience of Your Choice: Murder Mystery Experience; Pool Party BBQ; or Outdoor Dining Experience (Symphony Guild)
✦ Meat Bundle (Fareway)
✦ Golf Package for Two, includes green fees and cart (The Club)
✦ Symphony Ball Package, includes tux rental from My Chic Boutique and 2 tickets to the annual holiday ball

GET TICKETS

There are three ways to get tickets:
1 – Click THIS LINK to purchase online
2 – Visit the box office at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa
3 – In person from one of your favorite chefs listed above!

RSVP and share the Event on Facebook to let your friends know you’re coming!

Music on the Green
2024-06-09 19:00 | Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra invites you to an evening of great music under the open sky. Music on the Green, an event that has become a favorite for attendees, will be held Sunday, June 9th at 7:00 pm on the Marge Dodd Stage at Indian Hills Community College. Jim Clingman and Sarah Johnson, both local to the Ottumwa area, will be featured vocalists, and Associate Conductor David Sharp will take up his baton for the event once again to lead the musicians.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and picnic supper to enjoy as the orchestra plays. Sharp shares, “Every year, I try to bring a variety of musical sounds to our diverse audience, and this year will be no different. I have arranged most of the music for this concert. This year’s performance will feature a concert overture, swing and Latin tunes, show tunes, music from television series, and hits by Simon and Garfunkel and Frank Sinatra.”
Bring a picnic, your favorite beverage, a comfortable chair, and, of course, your friends and family. In case of rain or inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Hellyer Student Life Center directly next to the stage. In the event of cancellation, the public will be notified by 3:00 pm. There is no charge for admission, though a free-will offering will be taken.
This event has been generously sponsored by Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation.
For more information about the orchestra’s full season, visit ottumwasymphonyorchestra.org.

Spring Concert: Jazz in America
2024-05-04 19:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra’s annual spring concert, Jazz in America, will be held Saturday evening, May 4th, at 7:30 pm at Bridge View Center under the baton of Dr. William LaRue Jones. The winner of the Young Artist Competition, Rashaan Bryant (violinist), will perform the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. The orchestra will also perform “Coral” for Jazz Quartet and Orchestra, a commissioned piece written by Indian Hills Community College jazz professor and OSO’s Associate Conductor David Sharp. The composition will feature the quartet of Ken Kehner on keyboard, Eric Kreiger on bass, Drew Selim on drums and David Sharp on saxophone. Lisa Wissenberg, principal clarinet with the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra, will be featured soloist on Aaron Copland’s “Concerto for Clarinet & String Orchestra” (with Harp and Piano). Following the intermission, the orchestra will perform Symphony No. 1, Afro-American Symphony by William Grant Still.
Advanced tickets ($25 general admission; kids free) can be purchased at the Bridge View Center box office or online.
Full details about this concert can be read HERE.
The concert is sponsored, in part, by a grant from Wapello County Foundation.

Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert
2024-04-21 14:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra invites you to the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra’s spring concert. The event will take place at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 21, at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
The orchestra, now in its second year, is made up of musicians from school districts in Ottumwa, Pekin, Davis County, Cardinal, Centerville, Albia, and Pella. The students are led by Music Director and Conductor Yixue Snow Zhang, returning after a successful first season with the orchestra.
For more information about participation in the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra, contact orchestra manager Luke Miller via email at lmillerteacher@gmail.com. To read more about the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra, including details about upcoming events and purchasing tickets, visit ottumwasymphonyorchestra.org.

Divas Who Dish
2024-04-06 18:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Attention food (and music) lovers! Join us for our annual Divas Who Dish event on April 6, 2024, beginning at 6:00 pm.

Celebrity chefs set to provide their culinary skills for this exciting event include (in no particular order):
Brenda Anderson
Amy Serna (with the Rodgers twins)
Joni Jordan
Carina Drumond
Kim Hellige (with Janey Huston)
Kaitlyn Noal
Shannan Baker
Dana Hendricks
Melissa Childs
Nicolle Vandenberg

Tickets can be purchased for $25 in advance or $30 at the door; kids under 12 are just $7.50! Available at the Bridgeview box office or via www.bridgeviewcenter.com.

HUGE thank you to our major sponsor, Bridge City Realty.

March 9 Concert: Old World -- New World
2024-03-09 19:30 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Join us as we feature works that will have you journeying through time! We will also be joined by the winner of the 2024 Young Artist Competition, and our own Yixue Snow Zhang-Probst will perform the incomparable “Butterfly Lovers Concerto”, and the runner-up of the Young Artist Competition, Ethan Kwon, will be performing as well. Other pieces programmed in the concert include “Dance of the Yao Tribe” by Liu Tieshan and Antonin Dvorak’s “Symphony #9 in e minor, op. 95” (often referred to as “From the New World”).
Read more in this article.
CLICK HERE to order your tickets today.

Merry & Bright Holiday Concert
2023-12-10 15:30 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Madalynn (McKelvey) Baez, Soprano
The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra’s annual holiday concert, Merry & Bright, will be held Sunday afternoon, December 10th, at 3:30 pm at Bridge View Center. The orchestra will perform such favorites as: “Sleigh Ride”, “With the Voice of Joy and Praise”, and “Waltz of the Flowers”, as well as standards such as “O Holy Night”, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Hallelujah Chorus”, to name just a few. Former Ottumwa student Madalynn (McKelvey) Baez will be our featured soprano.
Following the concert, a reception of hot chocolate and cookies will be served in the theater lobby.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door and can be purchased at Bridge View Center (stop by in person to avoid online fees) or order online HERE.
Oh – and did we mention kids get in free? (No need to order them a ticket; just bring them along!)
The concert is sponsored, in part, by a grant from Wapello County Foundation.

Ottumwa Symphony Guild Holiday Ball - Fire & Ice
2023-12-02 17:30 | The Club, 304 E. Golf Avenue, Ottumwa, IA, 52537, United States
Please join the Ottumwa Symphony Guild for one of the most highly anticipated events of the season, the annual symphony ball. This year’s theme is Fire & Ice, and the members of the guild have been planning the details that are certain to delight all who attend. Dance the night away to music supplied by No Strings Attached. You do not want to miss out.
When: Saturday, December 2, 2023
Where: The Club (304 E. Golf Ave, Ottumwa)
When: Cocktail Hour 6:00-7:00 | Dinner 7:00
Tickets can be purchased HERE.

OSO Youth Orchestra Fall Concert
2023-11-11 14:00 | First Presbyterian Church, 228 W. Fourth Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Please join the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra as they share an exciting program during their season debut concert. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
The orchestra is made up of musicians from school districts in Ottumwa, Pekin, Davis County, Cardinal, Centerville, Albia, and Pella. The students are led by Music Director and Conductor Yixue Snow Zhang.

Season Debut with The Texas Tenors
2023-10-08 14:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
We are excited to be joined by The Texas Tenors, the most successful music group and third highest-selling artist in the history of America’s Got Talent! The tenors’ most recent albums “Outside the Lines”, “Rise” and “A Collection of Broadway and American Classics” all debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts. Purchase your tickets early; this concert is bound to be a HIT!
Tickets can be purchased for this event at Bridge View Center’s box office or via Ticketmaster.
PLUS – Don’t miss the Texas Tailgate following the concert! Just an add’l $25 gets you a post-show meal and meet-n-greet with the performers. Secure your tickets before October 4!

5th Annual Party by the Pool
2023-08-27 18:00 - 21:00 | IA
An evening out with some incredible people to support an important mission sounds like so much fun, doesn’t it? We think so, too! Join us for LIVE music (more details on that coming soon!), delicious appetizers, and summer drinks!
Come and visit with the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra board members for some summer fun as Ross and Cherielynn Westerich serve as hosts.
Tickets are $50 each, with proceeds going to support the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra whose mission is to provide top-level live classical music performances to Southeast Iowa. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, will be served. Bring a lawn chair.
NOTE: This is not a swimming event. Someone will reach out to you with the event location address after purchase of your ticket has been verified.
BUY TICKETS

Music on the Green: The Good Old Summertime
2023-06-11 11:00 | Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Marge Dodd Outdoor Stage
FREE ADMISSION

25 Men Who Can Cook
2023-06-10 11:00 | Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, United States
Join us as we continue to celebrate our 36th season!
Buy tickets
