The Ottumwa High School vocal department hit a milestone by having eight students selected for the 2020 Iowa All-State Chorus. This is the most the school has had for over 20 years. Students selected include: Dawson Brown (Tenor), Mya Lemonds (Soprano), Jonathan Francisco Pascual (Bass), Lorna Bauer (Alto), Cole Denner (Tenor), Kaya Baca (Alto), Alexander Renneberg (Tenor) and Ethan Vasconez (Tenor). These students have attained the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians by being selected as a member of the 2020 Iowa All-State Chorus and Band. District auditions for the 601 member All-State Chorus were held virtually this year.
The 2020 festival concert would have celebrated the 74th anniversary of this prestigious event. However, the Iowa High School Music Association and the Iowa Music Educators Association voted unanimously to cancel the festival due to health and safety concerns presented by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The All-State Chorus represents the top 1.7% of all Iowa high school musicians. "While we are saddened that the festival concert itself will not be able to take place to celebrate their achievement, that in no way diminishes the honor of these young musicians have achieved," said Dennis Vasconez, OHS vocal instructor. "They are in every way All-State Musicians!"
