The Ottumwa Community School District is proud to announce the selection of 20 talented students for the prestigious Southeast Iowa String Teachers Association (SEISTA) Honor Orchestra Festival. This marks a significant milestone in the district's expanding 5-12 orchestra program. The festival will take place in Bettendorf on Saturday, January 18, 2025, and features top student musicians from districts across Southeast Iowa.

The SEISTA Honor Orchestra Festival provides students a unique opportunity to refine their musical talents, audition for chair placement, and perform alongside peers from neighboring districts, including Bettendorf, Davenport, Iowa City, and more. Following auditions and a full day of rehearsals, the students will showcase their work in a final concert.

Participation in SEISTA is also a stepping stone to the Iowa String Teachers Association (ISTA) Honor Orchestra Festival in May, where students compete for further honors and perform at the state level.

"This is a great achievement and a step forward in our history as a 5-12 orchestra program," said Henry Weberpal, Orchestra Director for Ottumwa High School. "When I began teaching here, we had just two students selected district-wide. Nine years later, we’ve grown to 20—10 times that number."

Selected Students:

Ottumwa High School (High School Orchestra Ensemble)

Logan Elliott, Cello

Henry Garcia, Violin

Tyler Lowenberg, Violin

Kaelin McElderry, Violin

Tamsin McElderry, Violin

EmmaJean Sherwood, Viola

Luke Sprau, Viola 

Dennis Yan, Violin

Evans Junior High (Middle School Orchestra Ensemble)

Veronica Blaine, Double Bass (High School Ensemble category)

Maiya Barnes, Cello

Adam Batres, Viola

Ava Jordan, Double Bass

Emelin Lopez-Hernandez, Violin

Liberty Intermediate School (Cadet Orchestra Ensemble)

Constanza Alarcon Hernandez, Violin

April Cochran, Viola

Jayme Ferguson, Violin

Marie Henderson, Violin

Praise Jetnil, Violin

Rauha Saaranen, Violin

Charles Smith, Cello

This honor is a recognition of individual talent and a reflection of Ottumwa Schools’ commitment to nurturing a thriving fine arts program. These students represent the district's dedication to excellence, as they prepare to shine on both district and state stages.