In a process that began with about 2,000 students, Marion High School choir member Adam Kjellin was recently named one of the best tenors in the Kansas.

As a result, he has been asked to perform with the Kansas Music Educators’ Association All-State Choir.

“All-State is the highest honor a Kansas music student can receive,” music instructor Julia Miller said. “Adam is one of the best 64 tenors in the state.”

Adam, a junior, was the only student from Marion, and one of three students in the Heart of America league to receive the honor, Miller said.

For him, the competitive process began with 799 other singers from the region at the South Central Kansas Music Educators auditions held at Andover Central High School in November 2014, where singers performed music selections for a panel of judges who ranked each voice part based on performance.

Along with Nathan Baldwin, Shyla Harris, Molly Hess, and Quinton Hett, Adam was one of five students from Marion who performed well enough to rank among the top 160 singers, and advance to sing in a district-wide choral workshop Dec. 6 in South Central Kansas.

Adam was one of the 15 highest-ranking tenors that qualified for the All-State Choir.

He has been invited to participate in three days of rehearsals, directed by nationally recognized conductor Dr. Brad Holmes during the annual state KMEA Convention and perform in the All-State Choir concert at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 28 in the concert hall at Century II in Wichita.

Tickets cost $7.