Overture Awards Program 2026

presents

Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony Saturday, March 14, 2026 Previous Rounds Semi-Finals Competition Thursday, February 5 - Thursday, February 12, 2026 Regionals Competition Entry Date Tuesday, December 9, 2025 OVERTURE AWARDS ARE ENDOWED BY

The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Presenting Sponsors

The Cincinnati Arts Association and its Education and Community Programs are supported [in part] by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio.

Finals Competition and Awards Ceremony Saturday, March 14, 2026 Aronoff Center • Jarson-Kaplan Theater FINALS 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) $4,000 each Eighteen Finalist Awards $1,500 each EMCEE Jack Atherton STAGE MANAGER Michael Hatton PRODUCTION TEAM Jaclyn Bishop Joyce Bonomini Ryan Dupree Brenda Jones Jared O’Roark Emily Spooner

The Overture Awards 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, theater, visual art, and vocal music. For the 2026 competition, students may win $4,000 (one awarded in each discipline) or a $1,500 finalist award (a total of eighteen awarded). Judges at all levels of the competition are from the professional arts community.

Overture Awards Staff President VP, Education & Community Engagement VP, Development Associate Director of Education Artists on Tour Lead Community Programs Manager Executive Assistant/Assistant Stage Manager Special Program Manager Additional CAA Staff Support

Steve Loftin Joyce Bonomini Sarah Miller Emily Spooner Jaclyn Bishop Ryan DuPree Brenda Jones Jared O’Roark 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.

FINALS COMPETITORS DANCE

In order of appearance

NORA DOYLE • Grade 11, School for Creative and Performing Arts • Studies with Just Off Broadway Nora is a dance major in her tweleth year at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. She began her dance training at the age of 2.5, studying the many different genres of dance. Nora plans to continue her dance studies and her love for the arts for many years.

EASTON GLIEBE • Grade 11, Ohio Virtual Academy • Studies with Just Off Broadway Easton is seventeen and a Junior at Ohio Virtual Academy. He started dancing at the age of three and is part of the Just Off Broadway performance and convention teams. He participates in theater at Anderson High School and travels with Revel Dance Convention as their Pro Reveler of the Year.

RILEY NEUGEBAUER • Grade 12, Turpin High School • Studies with Just Off Broadway Riley has been practicing dance since she was three years old. She is trained in the styles of Jazz, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theater, and Tap. Her dream is to pursue her dance career collegiately to continue sharing her passion for dance.

BRINKLI COX • Grade 10, Homeschool • Studies with Hairston School of Dance Captivated by ballet at just three years old, Brinkli has been dancing through life! From portraying "the CryBaby" in the Cincinnati Ballet's The Nutcracker to the Sugar Plum Fairy with the Hairston School of Dance, Brinkli finds joy in embodying the characters she is portraying. She hopes for a long career as a professional ballet dancer.

FINALS COMPETITORS CREATIVE WRITING In order of appearance

LAUREN ASHELMAN • Grade 12, Springboro High School Ever since she was little, Lauren has loved to write and tell stories. She primarily writes realistic fiction and fantasy. When she's not planning her next novel, she's making plans as the president of the Springboro High School Writers' Club. She hopes to publish before she graduates and looks forward to being an author some day.

DEVI KOOL • Grade 11, Wyoming High School Devi has been an avid lover of books since she was three years old and has been writing short stories ever since she was seven. She hopes to pursue a career in journalism and use her words to enact change, just like her role model Gloria Steinem.

OLIVIA LANDRY • Grade 11, Villa Madonna Academy Olivia is an avid reader and writer with an intense passion for speculative fiction and dark fantasy. She's been writing for seven years and recently won a gold key for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She dreams of being a full-time author and a New York Times bestseller.

ANGELA TANG • Grade 11, William Mason High School Angela spends much of her time crafting short stories, which share an outlook on life as she sees it. A mentee in the Adroit Mentorship Program, she aims to convey intimate truths through storytelling. Her work has been recognized by contests like Scholastic and Bluefire, among others. As a writer, Angela attempts to bring what is felt to the page.

FINALS COMPETITORS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC In order of appearance

AUTUMN RINALDI • Grade 11, Cincinnati Country Day School • Studies with Dr. Sarah Kim Autumn has studied cello for twelve years. She made her solo debut in March 2025 with the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and was also featured as a soloist with the CSYO Philharmonic the same year. Outside of cello, she enjoys drawing, baking, listening to music, and spending time outdoors.

SOPHIA SUWIRYO • Grade 11, Summit Country Day School • Studies with Professor Alvin Chow At seventeen, pianist-composer Sophia is a KNS Classical artist studying with Professor Alvin Chow. A Lang Lang Young Scholar and Chopin Foundation Scholar, she has performed with the Cincinnati Pops; debuted in Poland, Spain, and Singapore; and appeared at Carnegie Hall, inspiring audiences through refined artistry and musical excellence.

MARIO AGUSTÍN YNGA ORELLANA • Grade 10, Walnut Hills High School • Studies with Dr. Laura Sabo Mario grew up surrounded by music through his family traditions from Bolivia.

Initially an accordionist, he discovered the clarinet, drawn to its elegance and expressive color. He is principal clarinet of the OMEA All-State Band and a CSYO Norman E. Johns Chair awardee. Mario is also a committed mathematics enthusiast, and proud older brother of twins.

GRACE YU • Grade 12, Indian Hill High School • Studies with Joyce Grabell Grace has been playing Viola for seven years, and plans to continue playing throughout her college career. In the past, she has earned second in the AVS Junior Solo Competition and won the Regional Irish Wendell Award. Currently, she is part of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras.

FINALS COMPETITORS VOCAL MUSIC In order of appearance

GENEVIEVE HOWARD • Grade 12, Newport Central Catholic High School • Studies with Talia Zoll Studio of Music / Talia Zoll Genevieve placed first in the 2025 Matinee Musicale and was a finalist in Schmidt Vocal and UK Vocal Competitions. She earned the 2025 traineeship with Cincinnati Opera. She loves participating in her school's musicals and the Mayfest Choir, and is a golfer. Genevieve plans to major in vocal performance.

She would like to thank her voice teacher, Talia Zoll, for her mentorship.

RAY MUENZER • Grade 12, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy • Studies with Musical Arts Center / Karl Resnik and Sam Krausz Ray is a senior at CHCA who fell in love with performing his sophomore year and has been in several theatre productions. He started studying classical voice with Karl Resnik his junior year and is a part of the Young Artist Prep Program hosted by CCM. He plans to major in vocal performance in college.

SAHANA SIDDHARTH • Grade 10, Seven Hills School • Studies with Allison Highland Studying Carnatic music since age five, Sahana presented her first advanced Carnatic Vocal Concert in March 2025, continuing her training in the tradition.

She also studies Western vocals, has performed at Carnegie Hall in the Choirs of America competition, and is passionate about musical theatre. Sahana plans to major in Psychology and continue her musical journey in college.

WILLIAM WITTEKIND • Grade 12, Saint Xavier High School • Studies with Musical Arts Center / Karl Resnik William has had a deep love of studying and performing classical music since the 7th grade. He recently placed first in the Matinee Musicale Competition.

William was a finalist in the Overture Awards in 2025 and a semifinalist in 2024. He is a senior at St. Xavier High School and is excited to keep performing in his future!

FINALS COMPETITORS VISUAL ART In order of appearance

EDIE ANDERSON • Grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts Edie has been telling stories through her art for her entire life. Her comics and illustrations have won numerous gold keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, as well as a gold seal in the Cincinnati Public Schools citywide art show. Her dream is to write and illustrate graphic novels and share her stories with the world.

JINMING GU • Grade 11, Indian Hill High School Jinming has been drawing since the age of five and works with many mediums, including oil paint, watercolor, and clay. Her art has earned eleven awards from the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition and the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. Outside of art, she enjoys singing, volunteering, and binging TV shows in one sitting.

RONAN WOLFER • Grade 12, Loveland High School Ronan is a senior at Loveland High School, planning to pursue a career in industrial design with a focus on sustainability. As a student-athlete, Ronan has participated in the Biotech and AP art programs for two years, cofounded Loveland's climbing club, and competed for six years as a varsity cross country and track runner.

RILEY JUDD • Grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts Riley's passion for the arts began since before she can remember. Even now, as a young adult, her passion has stayed within the arts. She strives to create and to share the story of her life, and how it has shaped the person you see today.

FINALS COMPETITORS THEATER

In order of appearance

MAEVE BACHMAN • Grade 12, Sycamore High School • Studies with Andrea Davies Maeve has been singing and acting since she was five years old, and it's been her passion ever since. She most recently played Agnes in She Kills Monsters at Sycamore High School. She plans to major in Musical Theatre in college after high school. She was also an Overture Awards semi-finalist in 2025

AVERY FOX • Grade 12, Homeschool • Studies with Northern Kentucky University / Xan Jeffery Avery has had a love for musical theatre since she watched the 25th Anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera when she was three. She studies voice with Xan Jeffery, is in regional musicals in Cincinnati, and is a part of The Children’s Theater of Cincinnati’s Junior Theater Festival Competition team. She plans to study musical theatre in College.

ELLIOT MARTIN • Grade 11, Highlands High School Elliot has enjoyed performing for local audiences since age nine. Favorite recent roles include Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition (TCT Mainstage), Maureen in RENT: School Edition (CAST), Pearl in The SpongeBob Musical (Highlands High School), and Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein (PAl). She also enjoys bowling, playing guitar and viola, and plans to pursue musical theatre after high school.

JAI’DEN PRITCHETT • Grade 11, Sycamore High School • Studies with Musical Arts Center / Karl Resnik Jai’Den has always been passionate about theater. He was recently named a Winner with Distinction in the National YoungArts Competition for Musical Theatre. Jai’Den plans to get a BFA in Musical Theatre and thanks everyone who has supported his journey, especially his voice teacher Karl Resnik and his family.

2026 OVERTURE AWARDS JUDGES Each round of the competition—Regionals, Semi-Finals, and Finals—is adjudicated by a panel of judges who are professionals in their discipline.

CREATIVE WRITING Chair: Elissa Yancey Regional: Jody Bates, Mildred Fallen, Deirae Hosley, Brandon Isaac, Alan Jozwiak, Jacob Zimmerman Semi-Final: Michelle Holley, Sherry Cook Stanforth, Annette Wick Final: Michelle Lawrence, Aiesha Little, Billy Simms

DANCE Chair: Jacqui Haas Regional: Tracey Bonner, Diane Lala, Jeunita Olowe Semi-Final: Kiersten Edwards, Jeri Gatch, Joy Detherage Jovet Final: Jeff Kuhr, David Morse, Suzette Webb

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Chair: Janell Eschenbrenner Regional: Danielle Hundley, Jackson Leung, Mariko Watson, Elizabeth Wu Semi-Final: Jason McElroy, Adalia Powell-Boehne, Isaac Selya Final: Ricardo Averbach, Mark Quintero, Siok Lian Tan

THEATER Chair: Kate Wilford Regional: Shawn Carter, Ken Early, Beth Harris, Regina Pugh, Ariel Shaw, Torie Wiggins Semi-Final: Candice Handy, Greg Procaccino, Joshua Steele Final: Andrea Canny, Pat Linhart, Spring Starr Pillow

VISUAL ART Chair: Billy Simms Regional: Christian Drye, Kip Eagan, David Knight, Deogracias Lerma, Kelly Phelps, Jane Winget Sheldon Semi-Final: Lindsay Nehls, Kate Rowekamp, Anisha Sanghani Final: Ryan Leary, Adoria Maxberry, Anna Christine Sands

VOCAL MUSIC Chairs: Kathy Wade Regional: Dione Bennett, Jason Holmes, Spring Starr Pillow, Jackie Stevens, Marc Weagraff, Spencer Zembrodt Semi-Final: Darren Bryant, Adrian Cunningham, Padma Chebrolu, Danielle Steele Final: Rebecca Childs, Takiyah Cunningham, Yemi Oyediran

2026 OVERTURE AWARDS SEMI-FINALISTS CREATIVE WRITING Lauren Ashelman Lorelai Bauman Devi Kool Trey Lacinak Olivia Landry Logan Schwartz Maya Schwartz Angela Tang Jai Tate Emilia Watka Asher Wesolowski

Grade 12 11 11 12 11 10 12 11 12 11 11

High School Springboro High School Seven Hills School Wyoming High School Mariemont High School Villa Madonna Academy Randall Cooper High School Randall Cooper High School William Mason High School Ohio Connections Academy School for Creative and Performing Arts Northwest High School

DANCE Brinkli Cox Nora Doyle Easton Gliebe Elise Hellmann Maren Hunley Haydyn Jackson Riley Neugebauer Victoria Niu Lily Mae Smith Cristiano Tempfli Nishita Vangala Leah Zimmerly

Grade 10 11 11 12 12 10 12 12 11 10 10 10

High School Homeschool School for Creative and Performing Arts Ohio Virtual Academy Highlands High School Mount Notre Dame High School Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Turpin High School Walnut Hills High School Ohio Virtual Academy Sycamore High School William Mason High School Wyoming High School

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Grade Owin Abeysinghe 9 Beckett Cerón 11 Annie Li 12 Sonya Moomaw 10 Mario AgustÃn Ynga Orellana 10 Autumn Rinaldi 11 Sophia Suwiryo 11 Alexander Wang 10 Grace Yu 12 Jenna Zhang 10

High School Indian Hill High School Seven Hills School William Mason High School School for Creative and Performing Arts Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati Country Day School Summit Country Day School Walnut Hills High School Indian Hill High School William Mason High School

Continued on next page

THEATER Maeve Bachman Zander Brewer Avery Fox Desmond Hutchens Annabel Jasinoski Avery Kaufman Caroline Lovelace Elliot Martin Adah Mosher Jai’Den Pritchett Natalie Schmall Naomi Wanko Isabella Weir Lydia Wright

Grade 12 12 12 10 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 9 12

High School Sycamore High School Lakota West High School Homeschool Campbell County High School Milford High School Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Walnut Hills High School Highlands High School Walnut Hills High School Sycamore High School Ursuline Academy Talawanda High School Seven Hills School Mercy Mcauley High School

VISUAL ART Edie Anderson Rivkah Green Jinming Gu Cordelia Holland Vivian Jenkins Riley Judd Danica Lee Tessa Long Jenisha Rana Lydia Wilson Ronan Wolfer Serena Zhang

Grade 12 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

High School School for Creative and Performing Arts Indian Hill High School Indian Hill High School School for Creative and Performing Arts Indian Hill High School School for Creative and Performing Arts School for Creative and Performing Arts Seton High School Indian Hill High School Oak Hills High School Loveland High School William Mason High School

VOCAL MUSIC Kiersten Bennett Roland Hensley Genevieve Howard Adelaide Linser Elyse Longbottom Raymond Muenzer Logan Nerlinger Reina Ryan Lorenza Schweitzer Sahana Siddharth Jenavieve Southcombe Eden Walker William Wittekind

Grade 11 10 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 10 10 10 12

High School Scott High School Highlands High School Newport Central Catholic High School Walnut Hills High School Indian Hill High School Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Oak Hills High School Lakota East High School Highlands High School Seven Hills School School for Creative and Performing Arts School for Creative and Performing Arts Saint Xavier High School

ARTS EDUCATOR AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS INSTRUCTION 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 recipients of the 2026 award will receive $1,000. The recipients 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).

History of the Award 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 Theater Educator Award has broadened its scope to become the Arts Educator Award.

ARTS EDUCATOR AWARD GIOVANNI FLORES Private Instructor • Discipline: Instrumental Music • Nominated by: Quincy Whitfield

MICHAEL SHERMAN High School Teacher • Discipline: Theater • Nominated by: Adelaide Linser

The Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards graciously thanks the following for their support.

Scholarship Sponsors Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Punky's Pixels Summfair Cincinnati TriHealth

Program Sponsors Accent on Cincinnati Ryan Anderson Arthur Murray – Cincinnati Arthur Murray – West Chester Karla Boldery James Branham Bonita Brockert Bill Chappie Maura Garuccio Erin Mignano

Dylan Morton Jozsef Parragh Stacy Sims Josh Tilford Alyenendrov Tsorokean Janeen Coyle Chris O’Brien J.D. Hughes

Print Sponsor Harlan Graphics

A special thank you to all the Aronoff Center volunteers, Cincinnati Arts Association staff, and Stagehand Local 5 IATSE members who make the Overture Awards possible!

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The CAA Presents series is made possible in part by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC).

The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

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The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation salutes the success of the Cincinnati Arts Association Overture Awards winners.