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Also participating in the contest were students from Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Eden Valley-Watkins and NL-S.

Of the 106 entries, 54 were from Paynesville, including 52 vocal solos. The students were rated on a 40-point scale for tone, intonation, rhythm, balance and blend, musicality, and expression.

Students receiving superior subsection ratings were also rated for state. Students from PAHS earned 19 state superior ratings, the highest rating available. PAHS choral students also earned 16 state excellent ratings.

Two students from PAHS earned prestigious "best of site" honors. Each of the five judges picked one act that they judged as the best of the night.

Both seniors Andy Jones and Jonnie Schefers sang bass solos in earning "best of site" honors. Jones had a perfect score, 40 out of 40, and Schefers scored 39 points.

Other top scorers for PAHS (all of whom earned state superior ratings) were: sophomore Nick Binsfeld (38/40), senior Mark Braun (38/40), senior Amy Buermann (38/40), junior Chris Kern (38/40), junior Adam Leyendecker (37/40), sophomore Ben Lingl (37/40), and junior Josh Williquette (38/40).

The following students also earned state superior ratings: Amanda Burlingame, Matt Gardner, Jen Hess, Amanda Kern, Morgan Martinson, Tasha Meinke, Jason Leyendecker, Amy Schoenherr, and Sami Tierney.

These students earned state excellent ratings: Jenna Berry, Trista Bork, Jen Gully, Adam Ingalsbe, Rachel Keller, Michelle Magedanz, Hannah Philabaum, Carly Samuel-son, Becky Schaumann, Katie Schaumann, Crystal Songetay, Brittany Stang, Laura Stoneburner, Susie Swyter, and Josh Tebben.

Amy Buermann and Adam Leyendecker also earned a state superior rating for a duet, and Crystal Songetay and Carly Samuelson earned a state excellent rating for their duet.

PAHS choral students spend the fall semester picking a solo and working on it during individual voice lessons. They perform it in front of the choir in January as part of a graduation standard, according to director Cheryl Bungum.

Most performed this song for contest last week. Twenty students sang solos at contest for the first time. Bungum said she was very happy with the results for PAHS students.

Accompanists at the competition were Bungum, Becca Gardner, RaNae Martinson, Heidi Olmscheid, and Jeanne Virant.

Some soloists will be featured at the choir concert on Thursday, March 21, at 8 p.m. in the auditorium, including both Jones and Schefers.