For kids, families

Kidsymphony will be Nov. 14 in Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for kids at the door or included free with season tickets ordered before July 15.

Sing the “Messiah”

“Messiah — Sing!” features the orchestra and soloists performing Handel’s masterpiece Dec. 12 in the Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, with the audience singing the chorus. Tickets are available for sale through the season brochure or at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged 12 and older.

Winter Series

The Winter Concert Series, Feb. 13-14, 2010, will include “A Roman Carnival Overture” by Berlioz and Tchaikovsky’s colossus, “Symphony No. 5 in e minor.” The series also will include a performance by SEISO’s Marilyn Minford McCoid Young Artist Competition winner.

Philipsen for Spring

The Spring Concert Series, March 20-21, 2010, features SEISO’s Artist-in-Residence, oboist Dane Philipsen, principal oboe for the Atlanta Opera.

For two weeks prior to the concerts, the Ottumwa native will be teaching and performing for schools and community groups throughout Southeast Iowa.

His solo performances with the orchestra will feature Finzi’s “Interlude for Oboe and String Orchestra,” as well as the classic Vivaldi “Oboe Concerto in d minor, Op. 8, No. 9.”

The orchestra will finish its classical concert series with presentations of Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” and Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz” from “Eugene Onegin.”

Honoring Ruth Keraus

Conductor and Music Director, Robert McConnell said that the 2009-2010 season honors the late Ruth Keraus, “the most important person in the history of our orchestra.

“Iowa is known for growing things, and Ruth took great pride in helping to ‘grow’ musicians,” he said. “She would be pleased as we welcome back two young pianists two years older and Ottumwan, Dane Philipsen, former performer with SEISO.... With Tchaikovsky’s 5th and Brahms’ 2nd, and the reopening of the IWC Chapel Auditorium and the ‘1812 Overture,’ this will be a season you won’t want to miss.”

Season tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for students and $60 for family passes. More information is available on the web — www.seiso.us. To receive a season brochure, contact: SEISO, 601 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641; phone (319) 385-6352; or send an e-mail to — seiso@iwc.edu.