Fine Arts programs are thriving across Ottumwa Community School District, with record student participation, exciting facility improvements, and award-winning performances that showcase the power of creativity, collaboration, high-quality teaching, and strong community support.
Over the past three years, the band, choir, and orchestra programs in Ottumwa have experienced remarkable student growth. Participation has nearly doubled since 2022, with projections indicating that over 1,300 students in grades 5 through 12 will be engaged in music by the end of the 2025-26 school year. This increase reflects the district’s commitment to delivering high-quality instruction through exceptional staff, modern resources, state-of-the-art facilities, and inspiring experiences led by highly professional educators who cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts in their students.
The district has made substantial investments in new instruments, risers, platforms, equipment, and state-of-the-art rehearsal spaces across all grade levels, ensuring every student has access to top-tier materials and facilities to learn and perform. Renovations to the Ottumwa High School music wing and Evans Junior High auditorium are near completion, with recently enhanced music classrooms at Liberty Intermediate and Fahrney Elementary.
Ottumwa’s fine arts students continue to earn statewide recognition:
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Band: The OHS Band earned a Division I rating at the State Marching Contest two years in a row, with multiple students selected for SEIBA Honor Bands and All-State auditions.
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Orchestra: Ottumwa’s orchestras have represented the district at All-State and regional festivals, building community through culture and collaboration.
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Vocal Music: Over the past four years, 20 OHS students were selected for the prestigious Iowa All-State Choir, and 12 younger students have performed with the Opus Honor Choir. Ottumwa’s show choirs have also earned Grand Champion and First Place titles multiple times in recent years.
Fine arts education in Ottumwa starts early, offering structured opportunities from fifth grade through high school. In 2024, a redesigned music curriculum and rehearsal schedule for grades 5–12 enhanced the student experience by providing consistent skill development and performance opportunities for all students.
“Our students are finding their voices, their rhythm, and their confidence,” said Superintendent Mike McGrory. “Through music, they’re learning teamwork, discipline, and expression, all things that help them ‘Be The Best,’ both on and off the stage.”
Ottumwa Schools’ growing fine arts programs are a testament to what’s possible when passion meets purpose, and when a community stands behind its students.