The Cony Concert Choir performs Tuesday on the fourth floor under the dome at the Maine State House in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA — On a day when hundreds of advocates flooded the State House to lobby lawmakers to establish paid family leave in Maine, a group of local students also descended on the Capitol to perform an important procedural duty.

The Cony Concert Choir performed the national anthem Tuesday to kick off the morning session of the House of Representatives.

In addition to singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the balcony of the House chamber, the Augusta high school students also performed on the fourth floor of the Capitol, under the dome.

The group of about two dozen teenagers was led by director Laura Whitney. Before leaving, the students were given a tour of the building from the city’s delegation: Reps. Raegan LaRochelle and William Bridgeo, both Democrats, and Republican Sen. Matt Pouliot.