The Iowa Composers Forum has released the names of the 2008 Student Composition Contest winners, and River Valley student Jordain Volkert has been named the state winner for the 5th/6th Grade Division.

Volkert's composition for flute trio, entitled "Flying Birds," will be performed at a concert at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, on October 11. The concert is part of the ICF State Festival of New Music, and Jordain's piece will be performed by a flute ensemble from Luther College. The concert begins at 10:30 a.m.

Jordain's composition started as a required assignment for her General Music Class at the end of her 5th Grade year, and her piece was selected by Denise Knaack to be an entrant in the ICF competition. Jordain, the daughter of Dan and Michelle Volkert of Correctionville, continued working on the piece throughout her 6th Grade year, and expanded it from a solo to three parts. River Valley band director Eric Flynn entered the piece into a "notation printing" software program for the entry.

The Iowa Composers Forum was formed in 1987 to promote music composition by Iowans, as well as those with ties to Iowa. In 1994, a student contest was added to promote composition by youth. River Valley has had 12 entries since then, and several RV students have been named as winners or received an honorable mention.