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Poetry Out Loud

Maine Arts Commission Announces Top Ten Poetry Out Loud Finalists

AUGUSTA, ME–The art of poetry and competition is alive and well in Maine, as 42 individual high school students competed at the Poetry Out Loud Regional Finals February 27 and 28.

This year’s regional poetry recitation contest was hosted at Hampden Academy in the north, and Thornton Academy in the south. The Maine Arts Commission, which administers the competition at the state level, is pleased to announce the top 10 finalists who will participate in the State Finals at the Waterville Opera House on March 13 at 3 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following Maine high school students – we are so proud of you!

Northern Maine Regional Champions

• Natalie Lisnet, Grade 12, Bangor High School
• Kate Hodgson, Grade 12, Camden Hills Regional High School
• Emma Beyor, Grade 12, Erskine Academy
• Gabrielle Cooper, Grade 12, Gardiner Area High School
• Antyna Gould, Grade 12, Medomak Valley High School

Southern Maine Regional Champions

• Amran Mahamed, Grade 11, Deering High School
• Jordan Bryant, Grade 120, Greely High School
• Sabrina Small, Grade 12, Maine Coast Waldorf School
• Skyler Vaughn, Grade 12, Maine Girls Academy
• Arielle Leeman, Grade 12 Morse High School

Poetry Out Loud Northern Regional Finalists left to right: Antyna Gould, Medomak Valley High School; Gabrielle Cooper, Gardiner Area High School; Emma Beyor, Erskine Academy; Kate Hodgson, Camden Hills Regional High School; Natalie Lisnet, Bangor High School.

Poetry Out Loud is organized by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation to encourage performance art, memorization, and public speaking skills in high schools nationwide. Since the contest started in 2005, nearly three million students and 10,000 schools have participated.  Maine high schools consistently draw a high participation rate from around the state.  The top-qualifying student from each participating school is then selected to compete in either the Northern or Southern Regional Finals. There are two rounds of recitation in which students must perform one poem written pre-20th century, and one poem that consists of 25 lines or fewer.  The final round is reserved for the top 10 performers to recite one final poem. Performances are judged on the student’s physical presence, vocal articulation, dramatic appropriateness, and evidence of understanding of the poem.  The juried panel then chooses the top five finalists from each region to move on the State Finals.

Poetry Out Loud Southern Regional Finalists left to right: Sabrina Small, Maine Coast Waldorf School; Skyler Vaughn, The Maine Girls’ Academy; Arielle Leeman, Morse High School; Jordan Bryant, Greely High School; Amran Mahamed, Deering High School.

The Maine State Finals will take place on March 13 at the Waterville Opera House. The doors will open at 2:30 p.m. The state champion will receive $200 and a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for the winner’s school. The winner will then be flown to Washington D.C. in April to participate in the National Finals and compete for a total of  $50,000 in awards and school stipends, as well as a $20,000 scholarship.

For more information about the State and National Finals, please visit Maine Arts Commission: Poetry Out Loud 2017 or contact Argy Nestor, Maine Arts Commission Director of Arts Education at argy.nestor@maine.gov or 207-287-2713.

The Maine Arts Commission shall encourage and stimulate public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and cultural programs of our state; shall expand the state’s cultural resources; and shall encourage and assist freedom of artistic expression for the well being of the arts, to meet the needs and aspirations of persons in all parts of the state.