OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Symphyony Orchestra’s 22nd season promises to be a unique experience for audience members. The programs will encompass the “Classically Comique” in the fall, the “Classically Romantic” for the winter program and the “Classically Magnifique” in the spring.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, in Indian Hills C.C., comic Kirk Marsh will join the orchestra with his unique style of nonverbal comedy for a delightful evening of music and laughter. Ottumwa native Kirk has been entertaining audiences with juggling, music, eccentric dance and humorous audience participation for years. This concert would be a wonderful opportunity to introduce your children and grandchildren to the symphony.

Preceding the concert, the Symphony will have a fund-raising dinner prepared by the Indian Hills Community College Culinary Arts Department.

The winter concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2009, at the Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa Campus and will include the romantic works of Dvorak’s “Serenade in E, Op 22” and Elgar’s “Concerto for Cello in E minor, Op. 85” with Julie Sturm as soloist. Sturm is principal cellist of the Des Moines Symphony, a member of the string faculty at Grinnell College, and in addition to her current faculty position at Central College, she teaches music theory at Iowa State University. Also performing at this concert will be the winner of the symphony’s annual Young Artist Competition

The third concert of the season features works of three magnificent composers; Beethoven’s “Coriolanus Overture, Op. 62,” Brahms’ “Violin Concerto in D, Op.77,” and Ravel’s “Daphnis and Chloe, Suite 1 and 2.” Violinist Nancy Gaub is the soloist for this performance. Ms. Gaub is a Lecturer in Music at Grinnell College and with her husband is co-Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed Roycroft Chamber Music Festival which they founded in East Aurora, N.Y., in 1994. The concert will be at the Bridge View Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2009.

Anyone wishing to purchase season membership tickets or make donations may send a check along with name and address to The Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 173, Ottumwa, IA 52501. Season family memberships are $50 for the three regular season concerts. Individual season memberships are $30. Tickets for individual performances may be purchased at the door for $12.

In addition to the regular season the orchestra will hold its annual Christmas Ball at the Bridge View Center on Dec.13, 2008 providing a magical evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing with music provided by the orchestra.

The “Wines of Note” wine-tasting fundraiser will be at Bridgeview Center in April of 2009.

In June 2009 the orchestra will present its annual free outdoor Pops Concert “Music on the Green” at Indian Hills Community College.