The Ottumwa Community School District is proud to announce the selection of 15 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 17, 2026, and features top student musicians from school districts across Southeast Iowa.

The students selected are as follows:

Middle School Honor Orchestra:

Jayme Ferguson, Violin, Liberty Intermediate School

Marie Henderson, Violin, Liberty Intermediate School

Charles Smith, Cello, Liberty Intermediate School

Rauha Saaranen Tomas, Violin, Liberty Intermediate School

Yurem Curiel Cortes, Violin, Evans Junior High School

Bryson Dinning, Viola, Evans Junior High School

Rayan Haddou, Violin, Evans Junior High School

 

 

High School Honor Orchestra:

Veronica Blaine, Bass, Ottumwa High School

Abigail Ellison, Viola, Ottumwa High School

Henry Garcia, Violin, Ottumwa High School

Sonya Lundgren, Violin, Ottumwa High School

Simon Marble, Violin, Ottumwa High School

Blythe Schmidt, Viola, Ottumwa High School

Jocelyn Whennen, Cello, Ottumwa High School

Dennis Yan, Violin, Ottumwa High School

 

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.

"When I began teaching here, we had just two students selected district-wide. I’m proud of how much we’ve grown, ten years later," said Henry Weberpal, Orchestra Director for Ottumwa High School. "This is a great achievement and a step forward in our history as a 5-12 orchestra program."

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