Poetry Out Loud
Recitation and performance are major new trends in poetry. There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music. Poetry Out Loud builds on that momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theater into the English class. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with the Utah Arts & Museums Literature Program to support the expansion of Poetry Out Loud, which encourages Utah’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance.
- For full details on this exciting national poetry recitation contest, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.
- For more details regarding Utah's Poetry Out Loud activities, contact Jean Irwin via email or call 801.533.5760.
2013 Poetry Out Loud 
 |
Photo by Kent Miles |
Congratulations to Devin Jones for his 4th Place Regional finish at the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C.!
On March 12, 2013, six competitors from around the state competed in the Poetry Out Loud State final. These high school students competed in individual school competitions (consisting of more than 3,600 students), then a regional/preliminary competition to reach the state level. Performing three poems chosen from the extensive POL database, students were judged on criteria such as articulation, understanding, physical presence, level of difficulty, and accuracy. Judges were Todd Petersen, Paula Fowler, Jennifer Tonge, and Kim Burningham. Special performances were given by Poet Laureate Lance Larsen, poets Mike Dorrell and Willy Palomo, and musicians Daniel Day Trio.
Devin Jones from West Jordan High School emerged the winner, receiving a $200 cash award and $500 for poetry books for his school. At the national competition in Washington, D.C. on April 29th-30th, Devin represented Utah in the Region 3 competition, where he earned a 4th-place finish. When interviewed, he said he had never performed before Poetry Out Loud and wanted to "expand my horizons with my poetry" by choosing three new poems for the national competition.
Tony Madrid from East Hollywood High School came in second at the state competition, receiving a $100 cash award and $200 for poetry books for his school.
For more information on the national competition, please click HERE.
Watch Videos of the Six 2013 Finalists
| Joshua Graham | Rowan Hadlock |
| Devin Jones | Jenny Kim |
| Tony Madrid | Elizabeth Malone |
- View videos of three finalists from Judge Memorial Catholic High School
- View student production of POL at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in 2013
2012 Poetry Out Loud
|
MarKaye Hassan with Utah Poet Laureate Katharine ColesThe Utah State Poetry Out Loud Finals Contest was held at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 7 p.m. with students from 16 high schools participating. Judges were Katharine Coles, Jerry Rapier, Shanan Ballam, and Tiffany Hall. Kate MacLeod provided music during the interludes.
Top honors went to MarKaye Hassan, a senior at Logan High School. She received $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national finals from May13-15, 2012. MarKaye placed 3rd at that competetion where she received a $5,000 scholarship. Her school also received a total of $1,000 for the purchase of new poetry books due to her achievements at the state and national levels.
Runner-up was Shannon McCullam, a senior at Box Elder High School in Brigham City. She received $100 and her school received a $200 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.
MarKaye went on to finish 3rd Place at the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C.!
For more information on the national competion, please click HERE.
2011 Poetry Out Loud
|
The Utah State Poetry Out Loud Finals Contest was held at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 14, 2011, at 7 p.m. with students from 10 high schools participating.
Top honors went to Shannon McCullam, a junior at Box Elder High School in Brigham City. She received $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where she competed in the national finals in April 2011. Her school also received a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.
First runner-up was Alyssa Hall, a senior at North Sanpete High School in Mt. Pleasant; second runner-up was Samara Wells, a senior at Monticello High School.
2010 Poetry Out Loud
The Utah State Poetry Out Loud Finals Contest was held at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 7 p.m.
Congratulations to winner Caroline Liston from Box Elder High in Brigham City. She will represent Utah in the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington D.C. Lexi Crandall from Meridian School in Provo and Laura Lighty from Judge Memorial in Salt Lake City also received award certificates.
2009 Poetry Out Loud
Janna Tessman, a senior at Salt Lake City's East High, represented Utah at the national Poetry Out Loud finals in Washington, D.C. on April 26-28. As the Utah winner, Janna received $200 from Poetry Out Loud, and East High received $500 to purchase poetry books for the library.
The 2009 runner-up was Katie Harrington from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City. The state finals featured students from 10 Utah high schools, from Ogden to Payson. Judges were Anne Cullimore Decker, Katharine Coles and Rob Carney. Blue Haiku provided music during the interludes.