Pella Christian vocalists senior Jema Settles and junior Breece Gibson earned vocal performance award recognition from the Iowa High School Music Association’s Solo and Ensemble Music Festival. Jema and Breece received the highest honor in the state, earning an “Outstanding Performance” designation for their medley of “Down to the River to Pray” and “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying.” Jema and Breece were invited to perform at the IHSMA Outstanding Performance Recital at Iowa State University Tuesday.

“The ‘Outstanding Performance Award’ is a designation of effort and accomplishment that far exceeds the demands made of an average Iowa high school musician. This state is blessed with hundreds of talented musicians that are capable of musical performances of a superior nature. Such performances are awarded our Division I rating at festival programs. The “Outstanding Performance Award”, however, designates this particular performance as being truly exemplary to other high school students and music programs.”