Cedar Rapids Washington High School freshman Mira Gibbons, 13, performs before The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Washington junior Macyn Davidson-Ware gives a speech after receiving an award for spoken and written word during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Eastern Iowa Arts Academy youth band We the People performs during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids artist Garrett Turner adds colors to his painting during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. Turner worked on a piece for Excellence in the Arts in 2024 as well. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Youth clarinet players performs with the Sarah King Woodwind Studio during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Sarah King Woodwind Studio performs during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Bassist Mason Attwood, 17, plays with his Eastern Iowa Arts Academy youth rock band We the People during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Sarah King Woodwind Studio performs a variety of pieces during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Gazette’s executive editor Zack Kucharski presents Linn-Mar High School senior Emma Larson with an award for visual arts during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Guitarist Daniel Mitchell, 15, performs with Eastern Iowa Arts Academy youth rock band We the People during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Art from Linn-Mar High School senior Emma Larson is displayed in the lobby during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A youth clarinet player performs with the Sarah King Woodwind Studio during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids artist Garrett Turner works on a live painting for audience members to watch during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. Turner worked on a piece for Excellence in the Arts in 2024 as well. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Vocalist Lucy Frost, 17, performs with Eastern Iowa Arts Academy youth rock band We the People during The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)