The Iowa High School Music Association Solo/Small Ensemble Festival recently took place for Class 3A and one local student took home a prestigious honor.  

The Adel-DeSoto-Minburn school district sent students to the recent solo/small ensemble festival earlier this year and for student Michael Payne he earned the prestigious “Best of Center” Award. Music Director Becca Cassel says there were a lot of students in the running. 

“Out of all of the performances in that room for the whole day the adjudicator chose him as the very best. Just a huge honor because there were schools, maybe five or six different schools, and the performances are scheduled every seven minutes all day long. So, it’s a great honor, we are excited for him.”

Upon receiving the “Best of Center” award Payne will perform again at Iowa State University on May 17th for the Best of Center showcase. Payne tells Raccoon Valley Radio it was a good feeling to get to share what he has been working on.

“I am very happy that I got to share what I have been doing especially in a solo style with an adjudicator. I certainly did not expect to get Best of Center but I knew I was doing pretty well with my songs and I have been working on them for a little bit now and the hard work I feel has really paid off.”

Cassel says the Best of Center showcase will feature all of the students across Class 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A who were selected as “Best of Center” performers.