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The annual Estevan and District Music Festival ended on a high note on Sunday with the handing out of awards for performances from students from across Estevan.

A variety of businesses, organizations and individuals from around the southeast stepped up as always to sponsor a monetary amount for the deserving musicians, of which there were quite a few.

The highest honor went to Levi Stepp, who took home the Murray GM award for Outstanding Performance, a total of $500.

Garrett Schwab performs with his trombone.

"It was really nice to get that from the community," he expressed, adding his thanks to Murray GM, "It's just really nice to receive an award such as this from all the disciplines that I've been in for the Music Festival."

To be considered as a recipient for it, a student has to be involved in at least 2 of 3 categories, and then things will be graded on a points based system. Stepp performed three piano and three band pieces, and several in voice and speech arts to more than qualify.

So what's a high school student with Broadway ambitions to do with the money?

"Well, it'll just go into my savings right now, to save up to go to school," he said.

"It was really good, considering the fact that we had a week of holidays in between the actual festival and now. I think we had a great turnout, and so many of the young kids were able to play and perform, which is a real bonus to us," stated Anita Kuntz, who's been involved in the event for over 25 years, since she started performing as child herself and then participating as a teacher before retiring.

She noted that the last few years have seen a slight decrease in participation, however, they are still one of the top 10 out of 47 festivals in the province.

"The one thing that stands out from this event is that, when it was evident that the regular organizers that would do it couldn't take in on, these two young high school students (Levi Stepp and Abby Hanna) stepped up to the plate and did the organizing. They felt that it was really important that the kids that were getting the awards and could perform, had the opportunity. I give them a lot of credit for doing that, it was a lot of work for them."

{gallery}2018 Music Festival{/gallery}