Poetry Out Loud is an annual nationwide competition that stimulates artistic expression in its competitors. This year, many students have chosen to participate in this competition and presented a range of acts–from poetry to music–to showcase their artistic abilities. Musical acts are there to create a more relaxed environment and do not partake in the competition. Poetry competitors are graded by a panel of teachers from the English department at NVD, with the possibility of moving on to the regional competition and earning future scholarships.
This year, junior Jenna Au has won the school’s event with Crisangelie Guzman as the runner up. This has presented Au an opportunity to compete this February in the regional competition, where she will be representing NVD and competing against other schools. Co-advisor Sabina Albirt explained the guidelines for the competition.
“[The poems] have to be memorized, have good intonation, volume, and inflection,” media specialist at NVD, Sabina Albirt said. “The performance should be focused on the recitation of the poem.”
Normally, these are the only requirements needed for the competition, and students are given relatively free reign when selecting a topic and poem. However, this year a theme is being selected for the competitors.
“It’s focusing on the 250th anniversary of the country, so it is more narrow than recent years,” Albirt said. “The poems in the database are specifically designed to honor our 250th year of America.”
Students have already selected their poems for the event, and are focussing on themes and ideas that resonate with them and their values.
“The poems I’m doing are Let No Charitable Hope and Bolivar,” sophomore Crisangelie Guzman said. “They’re both about hope and I resonate with the second one because I’m Hispanic, so it connects with my culture.”
Poetry Out Loud can be seen as a more intimate experience by some, to passionately share poems that resonate with them, as well as connect with their culture. Others have volunteered to instrumentally perform. Among these instrumental acts includes an instrumental quartet, or a four person group.
“There’s one clarinet, one flute and one oboe,” junior Taerim Kim said. “The flute and other clarinet players I’ve played with during last year’s Poetry Out Loud event. And this year the oboe player is also joining us.”
These musical acts help give the sense of a “cozy environment” as Kim said. Although these instrumental groups aren’t competing, it is a nice opportunity that gives them a chance to perform and relax while watching the rest of the recitations. This competition isn’t solely limited to participation from just contestants, students are also given opportunities to help with the tech, and be the MC, or master of ceremonies.
“As the MC, I sort of direct each person onto the stage. I call them up, say their name and the name of their poem,” sophomore Romi Melamed said. “I kind of help in the background”
Being an MC for this competition is seen as a good opportunity for Melamed, who “really enjoy[s] volunteering for the NVD media center,” and “volunteering overall.” Reasons to participate in this event vary from person to person, but the scholarship opportunity it provides is enticing to many.
“You are recognized by the school, and there’s a Poetry Out Loud mural in the school with their name on it,” Melamed said. “I [also] think some people use it to battle public speaking and it helps them show their passions for certain aspects [of the arts].”
Those who are using it to help battle their stage fright aren’t simply thrown in with no experience. Both English teacher Mrs. Miano and Albirt help train the contestants for this event.
“The competitors get a lot of support. There’s either a one on one session to practice their poem, or they get help selecting their poem,” Melamed said.
For moving on to the regional and state levels, contestants are given continuous support by both Miano and Albirt.
“We coach them before they go to regionals, or on the school level,” Albirt said.
Finally, changes have been made so that contestants are met with a more “relaxing” environment than past Poetry Out Loud competitions.
“It used to be in the auditorium and it made people scared of public speaking, so they moved it to the academic theater,” Melamed said. “It’s not even a competition honestly, it’s just people passionate about literature.”
Overall, Poetry Out Loud is viewed as an event that provides artistic opportunities, helps to overcome stage fright, and provides scholarship and volunteer opportunities for anyone participating. It is seen as a personal representation of values and beliefs, and an opportunity to share passion for the arts.
“I just really like being able to share my feelings because I feel like teenagers are always trying to look as cool as possible, and are kind of forgetting how to feel and be real with each other,” Guzman said. “Feeling and having emotions is the basis of human experience, and by doing Poetry Out Loud, I feel like I’m helping in a way.”
