Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra to present Music on the Green “America 250”
***UPDATE (6/7/26): the concert will be held indoors at Indian Hills Community College St. John Auditorium due to inclement weather.
The 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. The theme for this year’s concert is America 250. Associate Conductor David Sharp will lead the orchestra in a concert of magnificent American music. Diana Upton-Hill and Justin Hill will join the orchestra for the second time this season to emcee the event, as well as to encore their April performance by singing a few selections from the Eternal Love medleys.
Sharp states, “This year, we are celebrating the United States of America’s 250th anniversary. Our performance will feature a variety of truly American music, from Sousa to Styne, Mancini to an Armed Forces medley, and even evergreen hits by singer/songwriters who contributed to country, pop, and rock genres. We are also thrilled to welcome back Justin and Diana as our emcees and guest vocalists; if you missed them on April 18th, here’s another chance to enjoy their incomparable talents.”
Some of the music that will be performed includes John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post March,” America’s “Ventura Highway,” the theme song to Western cinema classic “The Sons of Katie Elder,” and a tribute to the men and women who have served, or are currently, in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.
A new addition to this year’s event is a bake sale to benefit the Ottumwa Symphony Youth Orchestra. Delicious pies (both by the slice and whole), cookies, and cupcakes will be available for purchase. Free will donations will be accepted for the treats.
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 St. John Auditorium. 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.
Diana Upton-Hill is a Billboard charting, nationally recognized recording and touring artist. Trained classically (Indian Hills ’03; Truman State University ’05 and ’07), Diana’s style is multi-faceted, and her appeal spans nearly all ages and genres. She has appeared with numerous symphony orchestras, starred in local, regional and professional theatre productions, and opened for well-known acts like The Oak Ridge Boys. Her single “Southern Gentlemen”— produced by Grammy and CMA award winner Bryan White—reached the Top 30 nationally and garnered 8 weeks on the Billboard music charts. Diana enjoys curling up with a good book, spending time with her husband and their 8 year-old son, and cuddling their family cat, June.
Justin Hill has written for, arranged for, and performed with orchestras, theaters, and singers around the world. He was the founding and resident music director of the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts where he conducted, arranged and orchestrated many productions over several seasons. He has worked with legendary Tony, Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winning talent including Len Cariou, Liz Callaway, George Furth, Robby Benson, and Bryan White. On the other side of his life, Justin enjoys entrepreneurship and getting into all sorts of adventures with his wife, Diana, and son, Maverick Gabriel.
For more information about the orchestra’s full season, visit the Events page.
