POL Northern Regional Finals

Amazing High School Students

Five Northern Maine Finalists: Shaphnah McKenzie, Emma Jacot-Descombes, Magnolia Vandiver, Hanna Lavenson, Emily Campbell

At Hampden Academy earlier this week students, teachers and families traveled from different parts of Maine to recite poetry. The Maine Arts Commission held the Poetry Out Loud (POL) Northern Maine Regional Finals in conjunction with the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Students have been practicing and reciting poems in schools across the state and country since early in fall. For the event they had prepared three recitations and wowed the audience with their amazing performances.

We’re so proud of the following students who participated. The names with stars are the five students moving onto the state finals on March 11 at the Waterville Opera House, 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome!

• Hanna Lavenson, Messalonskee High School **
• Emily Campbell, Waterville High School **
• Emma Damboise, Hampden Academy
• Kate Kemper, Camden Hills Regional High School
• Maria Dottie, Winthrop High School
• DiamondRose Dunfee-Platt, Searsport High School
• Rebecca Collins, Presque Isle High School
• Emma Jacot-Descombes, Rangeley Lakes Regional High School **
• Magnolia Vandiver, George Stevens Academy **
• Shaphnah McKenzie, Bangor High School **
• Elias Miller, Medomak Valley High School
• Neily Raymond, Hermon High School
• Kaitlyn Bilodeau, Leavitt Area High School
• Kaitlyn Carreira, John Bapst Memorial High School
• Shelby Skipper, Gardiner Area High School

The Southern Regional Finals will take place on Monday, February 11, 3:00, Westbrook Middle School Performing Arts Center. For more information about the Poetry Out Loud program please go the POL pages at the Maine Arts Commission website.

 

 

Poetry Out Loud

Highlights of the Northern and Southern

Last week the Maine Poetry Out Loud Northern and Southern events took place at Hampden Academy and Thornton Academy. I was so impressed with the 42 high school students who recited (from memory) two, and if they made it to the final round, three poems. They were poised, articulate, and so committed to the poems they shared.

If you are interested in poetry, all I can say is, you missed a wonderful performance. Fortunately, you can catch glimpses of the poets reciting in two videos produced by the Maine Arts Commission Marketing Director, Ryan Leighton.

From each event, five students were selected to move onto the state finals, Monday, March 13, 3:00 PM, Waterville Opera House. In a blog post from last week you can see who is moving to the states by CLICKING HERE. Guaranteed you will be moved beyond words when you hear these 10 students recite. Jennifer Rooks from Maine Calling will emcee. In addition to the poets, the Maranacook Chamber Singers under the direction of Drew Albert will perform and, Maine’s Poet Laureate Stu Kestenbaum will recite some of his work.

Both videos are posted on the Maine Arts Education youtube channel.

Northern Maine POL Finals – Hampden Academy

Southern Maine POL Finals – Thornton Academy