Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Previous Rounds
Semi-Finals Competition Announcement Date
Thursday, February 21, 2023
Regionals Competition Entry Date
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
OVERTURE AWARDS ARE ENDOWED BY The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
Presenting Sponsors
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Aronoff Center • Jarson-Kaplan Theater
Final Competition Order
DANCE
CREATIVE WRITING
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
~Intermission~
VOCAL MUSIC
VISUAL ART
THEATER
~Intermission~
AWARDS CEREMONY
ARTS EDUCATOR AWARD
STUDENT AWARDS
Six Winner Awards (one in each discipline)
$3,000 each
Eighteen Finalist Awards
$1,000 each
EMCEE
Jack Atherton
Retired News Anchor/Writer
STAGE MANAGER
Michael Hatton
PRODUCTION TEAM
Joyce Bonomini
Brenda Jones
Nathan Baker
Emily Spooner
Ryan Dupree
Jared O'Roark
Jaclyn Stephens
The Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12. Its mission is to encourage arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience and to create an environment that encourages training in, and appreciation of, the arts. The Overture Awards Competition is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theatre, visual art, and vocal music. For the 2023 competition, students may win $3,000 (one awarded in each discipline) or a $1,000 finalist award (a total of eighteen awarded). Judges at all levels of the competition are from the professional arts community.
President
VP, Education & Community Engagement
VP, Development
Education and Community Engagement Associate
Community Programs Manager
Executive Assistant/Assistant Stage Manager
After School Expand Program Director
Youth and School Programs/Overture Manager
Grants Impact & Special Projects Manager
Additional CAA Staff Support
Steve Loftin
Joyce Bonomini
Deborah Morgan
Nathan Baker
Ryan DuPree
Brenda Jones
Jared O’Roark
Emily Spooner
Jaclyn Stephens
Aronoff Center Operations
Finance
Marketing
Ticketing
Weston Art Gallery
Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 700,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of nearly a dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than two-million students and adults. For more information, visit www.cincinnatiarts.org.
Overture Awards Staff• Grade 9, Turpin High School
• Just Off Broadway
Hannah is a member of Just Off Broadway's national award-winning convention and competition team. She trains in many different styles of dance with her most favorite being tap. Hannah has received numerous awards and scholarships specifically in tap from Ohio Dance Masters, NUVO, 24 Seven, and Wing It. She is a junior teacher at her studio and enjoys sharing her passion for tap with younger students.
• Grade 11, Ursuline Academy
• Movement Emporium
Ying Lei trains at Movement Emporium in many genres of dance. She also enjoys learning and being exposed to other styles of choreography at conventions. She has won numerous awards, scholarships, and titles, both regionally and nationally. As a dedicated student, she intends to pursue a double major to focus on both dance and academics in college.
• Grade 9, Mount Notre Dame High School
• McGing Irish Dancers
Erin has been dancing with the McGing Irish Dancers since age five. Erin is an Open Champion level dancer and competes all over the United States, Canada, and Ireland. In the last four years, Erin has held the top three placements in her age group at the Mid-America Oireachtas, winning overall first place in 2019 and 2021. She has placed fourth at the North American Irish Dance Championships and is a five-time World Qualifier for the Worlds Irish Dance Championships. Most recently, Erin competed at Worlds 2022 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and will be in Montreal in April 2023. Erin looks forward to many more competitions during her four years of high school.
• Grade 10, Sycamore High School
• Otto M. Budig Academy – Cincinnati Ballet
Alexandria has been practicing ballet for the last eleven years and has performed in several Cincinnati Ballet productions. She has spent her summers studying ballet with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Kirov Academy, San Francisco Ballet, and Ellison Ballet, and will be attending the Boston Ballet this summer.
Alex has been a Semi-Finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition for the last five years and is looking forward to her continued training under Sarah Hairston-Berkley and Jodie Gates at Cincinnati Ballet's Otto M. Budig Academy.
• Grade 11, The Seven Hills School
Edward is a violinist, composer, and storywriter of seven years. The Overture awards is one of many writing contests in which he has participated, such as the Harvard Global Essay competition and Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. He looks forward to publishing his written work, taking musical commissions, and volunteering on a heritage railroad.
• Grade 12, William Mason High School
Yujia is a senior at Mason High School. Her work has been recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the Young Poets Network, and various publications such as The Adroit Journal and Cleaver Magazine. She is the editor-in-chief of Double Yolk, a publication featuring poets of color and their journeys.
• Grade 11, William Mason High School
Anna is co-editor-in-chief of her school's literary magazine and a varsity member of its academic team. Her poetry has won three Scholastic Art and Writing silver keys, and Anna's second love, painting, has most recently been recognized with a gold key. In her writing, she marries her love for art and art history with a vivid passion for language.
• Grade 11, Sycamore High School
Yoshie has been an avid writer from a young age. She is majorly inspired by her grandmother, who was always writing herself, and brought Yoshie to many writing club meetings with her grandmother’s circle of friends. Additionally, she attended the University of Chicago’s Summer Immersion Program for creating writing and has been in love with the craft ever since. Her favorite authors are Haruki Murakami and Madeline Miller. Thanks to her wonderful English teachers, Miss Johanna Gordon and Miss Tess Rosen, she has been given the wonderful opportunity to be part of The Overture Awards. For the future, Yoshie hopes to write novels as personal projects.
• Grade 10, William Mason High School
• Hong Cheng Violin Studio
Vivian has been studying violin since the age of four. She is a Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra member and is Cincinnati Public Radio's Maestro of Tomorrow Competition Top Prize winner, State winner of the OMTA Buckeye Strings competition, and First Place Prize winner of the American Protégé International Concerto Competition. Vivian has performed as a soloist and an orchestra member on stages at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Chicago Symphony Center, and Cincinnati Music Hall. This summer, Vivian will join the National Youth Ensemble NYO2 and take part in NYO2's international debut in the Dominican Republic on an invited concert tour.
• Grade 11, William Mason High School
Christy has been playing the violin since she was six years old, and now plans to pursue violin performance after graduating high school. She enjoys playing in orchestras throughout her community and playing chamber music with friends. She is very grateful to her teachers and family for their support and is excited for this opportunity to perform in this year's Overture Awards finals.
• Grade 10, Walnut Hills High School
Erica Nam has studied violin with Professor Sassmannshaus since age seven in the Starling Project Cincinnati. She has played in masterclasses with Friedemann Eichhorn, Sibbi Bernhardsson, Amy Lee, and Vadim Gluzman. Erica has soloed with the Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and Starling Chamber Orchestra, including, at age nine, a 2016 tour of China. Erica is the top prize winner of the Jack and Lucille Wonnell Young Artist Competition, New Albany Symphony Concerto Competition, and Sejong Music Competition. She has participated in Bowdoin International Music Festival, Great Wall International Music Academy, Innsbrook Institute, Sounding Point Academy, and Philadelphia International Music Festival.
• Grade 12, Wyoming High School
Ari is a seventeen-year-old cellist and has practiced the instrument for the past fourteen years. At age six, he debuted at Carnegie Hall as winner of the AFA String Competition. He has journeyed to Germany, Switzerland, and numerous states to advance his proficiency on the cello. Ari has performed on NPR’s From The Top radio show with hosts Tessa Lark and Peter Dugan. He will perform the first movement of Samuel Barber’s Cello Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony in the annual “Side by Side” concert in April.
• Grade 12, Homeschool
• Keen Voice Studio and Kelly MacKenzie Thurley Vocal Studio
Sela has been studying classical voice for seven years and jazz for three years. A recent winner of The Young Arts National Competition and a previous finalist in the Overture Awards, Sela is excited to return to the Jarson-Kaplan Theater stage to sing for you.
• Grade 11, Dixie Heights High School
• Talia Zoll's Studio of Music
Ella lives in Northern Kentucky where she has studied voice since sixth grade with Talia Zoll. She recently placed third in the Matinee Musicale Scholarship competition and received an encouragement award in the Schmidt Vocal competition. She attended Governor's School for the Arts and sings with her school's chamber choir and the May Festival Youth Chorus. Ella also loves participating in her school’s musicals, where she combines her passion for singing and spending time with friends.
• Grade 11, Sycamore High School
• Musical Arts Center
Sabine is seventeen years old and has been studying vocal music for five years. Sabine has always had a passion for many forms of art, but most of all music. In the past three years, she has participated in various vocal competitions such as the Overture Awards and Matinee Musical. Sabine plans to continue to study voice through college and into her future.
• Grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts
Sophia began studying the upright bass in seventh grade. She performs in her high school's Jazz and Symphony Orchestras. Her Jazz director encouraged her to study voice. Sophia is the principal bassist for CSO's Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the bassist and vocalist for CCM Prep's Youth Jazz Orchestra. She was awarded Outstanding Vocal Soloist at the Essentially Ellington competition in 2022. Sophia is pursuing a Jazz Studies Degree in college.
• Grade 12, Oldenburg Academy
Megan fell in love with animals at a very young age, which sparked the desire to create and draw. She won multiple Scholastic Awards, including a gold medal, and two art portfolio awards. Megan’s future plans are to pursue game design and animation at Purdue University.
• Grade 12, William Mason High School
Michelle is a senior at Mason High School and loves creating art in all forms and mediums, including colored pencil, posca pens, and acrylic. In college, she hopes to combine her interests in STEM and the arts through engineering and studying an interdisciplinary field such as product design. One of her favorite pastimes is sleeping, although she also is also known for painting in her bathroom at 2:00 AM.
• Grade 12, Fairfield High School
Karen has been practicing art for as long as she can remember. Even as a toddler, she was always creating. Whether it was making new characters, following drawing tutorials, or even drawing all over the walls, she has always practiced self-expression in different forms of art. Lately, her favorite medium has been oil painting, as she believes oil paint helps her best portray the vision she has for her artwork. Karen has not yet decided on a college, but hopes to continue practicing fine art after high school. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Overture Awards.
• Grade 12, Lakota West High School
Caitlyn has been making art for as long as she was able to hold a Crayola marker. A competitive dancer, she treasures her time in any studio devoted to the arts. With the support of her teachers over the years, Caitlyn has had many accomplishments, such as a piece that was featured in the J. Paul Getty Museum, multiple Scholastic Keys, and other juried competitions. She would like to give special thanks to her parents for always being there for her, and her two cats Nala and Simba.
• Grade 11, Indian Hill High School
• Kate Brauer-Bell Acting Studio
Franny most recently appeared in Singin’ in the Rain at The Carnegie. She is performing in Kiss Me, Kate at the Covedale now through April 8, and Jesus Christ Superstar as Mary Magdalene at her school next month. She plans to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre after high school.
• Grade 12, Milford High School
• CCM Prep
Brooke has been performing in the Cincinnati area since she was seven years old. Some of her favorites include To Kill a Mockingbird (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), The Miracle Worker (Cincinnati Landmark Productions), and Disney’s Descendants (Acting Up). In her free time, Brooke likes to read, bake, and volunteer with The Miracle League of Cincinnati. She would like to thank Lisa Ericksen for nominating her, as well as the Cincinnati Arts Association for this opportunity.
• Grade 10, Notre Dame Academy
• Slater Music Academy
Chanduni has had a passion for singing since she was very young. She decided to try out taking part in musicals at summer camps and schools, and soon learned that people seemed to enjoy her acting skills as well. Now, she is taking every opportunity she can to bring her closer to her Broadway dreams.
• Grade 12, Sycamore High School
• Cincinnati Music Academy
Morgan is beyond grateful to be performing at this year’s Overture Awards. Soon, she will be playing Lady of the Lake in her high school production of Spamalot. After she graduates, she plans on getting a BFA in Musical Theatre. Morgan would like to thank her wonderful coaches, Paul McCready, John Whapham, Lea and Drew Lachey, and of course, her amazing family.
Each round of the competition—Regionals, Semi-Finals, and Finals—are adjudicated by a panel of judges who are professionals in their discipline.
Chair: Elissa Yancey
Regionals: Alan Jozwiak, Jeff Seuss, Billy Simms, B.R. Smith, Sherry Cook Stanforth, Susan Steinkamp
Semi-Finals: Joseph Bates, Michelle Lawrence, Rebecca Todd
Finals: Michael Hennessey, Zackary Hill, Alison Russell
Chair: Jacqui Haas
Regionals: Jessica Harris, Joy Detherage Jovet, Jeaunita Olowe
Semi-Finals: Christina Bolden, Tracy Bonner, David Choate
Finals: Donna Grisez, Mary Kamp, Diane Lala
Chair: Janell Eschenbrenner
Regionals: Frank Huang, Danielle Hundley, Ellen Croy Stephens, Siok Lian Tan, Elizabeth Wu
Semi-Finals: Ellis Anderson, Becky Jones, Tyler McKisson
Finals: Pin-Hsuan Chen, Kevin Holzman, Alexander Moore
Chair: Jared O’Roark
Regionals: Beth Harris, Katie Johannigman, Greg Procaccino, Regina Pugh, Joshua Steele, Robert Weidle
Semi-Finals: Marvin Hawkins, Ariel Shaw, Kate Wilford
Finals: Carolyn Guido Clifford, Pat Linhart, Damon Stevens
Chair: Billy Simms
Regionals: Kip Eagen, David Knight, Deogracias Lerma, Craig Lloyd, Lindsay Nehls, Amanda Nurre, Anna Christine Sands, Paige William
Semi-Finals: Richard Fruth, Kelly Phelps, Jane Winget Sheldon
Finals: Anissa Lewis, Kendall Neyer, Paige Wideman
Chairs: Kathy Wade
Regionals: Dione Bennett, Jason Holmes, Jiana Hunter, Ebony Menefield, Danielle Steele, Jackie Stevens
Semi-Finals: David Adams, Ellen Graham, Marc Weagraff
Finals: Vernon Hartman, Jessica Rivera Shafer, Mary Henderson-Stucky
The Arts Educator Award promotes and rewards excellence in arts instruction throughout Greater Cincinnati. An educator who teaches any of the following arts disciplines may be nominated: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. They can be a high school arts specialist, teaching artist working with high school students, or an arts professional or educator providing private lessons or instruction. Nominations for the award must come from students between the ages of 14-19 who are currently enrolled in high school. Nominations are made by submitting an on-line application with a three-minute video about why the nominee is an exemplary arts educator.
The winner of the 2023 award will receive $1,000, and two finalists will receive $500. The recipient of the Arts Educator Award may utilize the monetary award to strengthen their program or practice, e.g. artist fee for guest lecturer or master class, purchase of equipment, or a professional learning opportunity, such as tuition assistance for either the educator or for students to study with the recipient or another professional.
The Arts Educator Award was first introduced during the 2006-07 Season as the “Theater Educator Award,” which was originally created by Jackie Demaline, former Cincinnati Enquirer theatre critic and arts reporter, as one of the first initiatives of the Enquirer’s Acclaim Awards for Excellence in Cincinnati Theatre. With its move to the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards program in 2015, the Theatre Educator Award has broadened its scope to become the Arts Educator Award.
Kathy Cammett, The Golden Voice Studio
Discipline: Vocal Music
Nominated by Luis Vega-Torres
Hong Cheng, Hong Cheng Violin Studio
Discipline: Instrumental Music
Nominated by Vivian Chang
John Ingram, Private Instructor
Discipline: Instrumental Music
Nominated by John Paul Shannon
Judges: Jacqui Haas, Elissa Yancey
The Overture Awards and Cincinnati Arts Association graciously thank the following for their support:
The Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
Summfair Cincinnati
TriHealth
Scholarship Sponsors
Arthur Murray – Cincinnati
Douglas Beal
Doreen Beatrice
Bonita Brockert
Maura Garuccio
Jozsef Parragh
Punky's Pixels
Summerfair Cincinnati
Josh Tilford
Western & Southern Financial Fund
Printing Sponsor
Harlan Graphics
A special thank you to all the Aronoff Center volunteers, Cincinnati Arts Association staff, and Stagehand Local 5 IATSE who make the Overture Awards possible!
Selected Exhibits Fine Arts & Craft , at Coney Island
NEW Hours
Friday 12pm-7pm
Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
$10 Admission
Kids 12 & Under are FREE Free parking
More information at Summerfair.org
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Working together to enrich lives
Institutional
At Fort Washington, we’re committed to always doing the right things for the right reasons.
As the largest money manager in the region,¹ Fort Washington is proud to be invested in the vitality of our city and surrounding areas.
Serving local and national institutions, foundations and endowments, and individuals and families, we provide proactive, strategic financial advice and never waver in our constant pursuit of success. We invite you to come talk with us. contactus@fortwashington.com / blog.fortwashington.com
1 Cincinnati Business Courier Book of Lists 2018-2019 — ranked by locally managed assets as of June 2018 / High Net Worth / Private EquityThe Otto M. Budig Family Foundation salutes the success of the Cincinnati Arts Association Overture Awards winners.
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– Anna Pavlova