DES MOINES, Iowa — The Central Iowa Music Lab held a concert on Sunday, allowing their students an opportunity to perform on the stage and showcase their skills.

Students gathered at the Val Air Ballroom to perform for families and each other. The event happens twice a year and is put on by the Central Iowa Music Lab as a way for their students to gain experience performing and showcase their musical talents.

The Central Iowa Music Lab was formed in 2008 with the help of James Biehn. The goal is to help encourage and teach Central Iowa students in music and performing. James wanted to fill the void that had formed in the music world over the years.

“I grew up with other classmates, other musicians, just meeting in a garage and playing and I feel like sometimes with modern live and screens, we aren’t meeting in a room with other people and just being loud. Maybe you’re not good at first but you could be great,” said Biehn.

James takes beginners and teaches them through highly advanced musicians. Those students then have the opportunity to perform in bands with other students in front of real audiences. These students often flourish and have the opportunity to work in some of today’s best-known bands.

“I think people are born to be creative, and I think the idea of kind of putting something out into the world that wasn’t there before is a really interesting thing,” Biehn said.

Always looking to innovate and expand music’s reach, James will be adding orchestra instrumentalists. This will provide a wider variety of choices and encourage students to learn about all music genres.

The Central Iowa Music Lab currently teaches over 300 students with the help of over 20 professional musicians.