2020-2021 Maryland State Finals Poetry Out Loud Program

2021 Maryland State Poetry Out Loud Competition March 9, 2021 at 4:00 PM

Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is administered in partnership with the State Arts Agencies of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

By encouraging high school students to memorize and perform great poems, Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. This exciting program, which began in 2005, helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

Thank you to all the teachers, students, and families for your dedication to this program.

2021 POL NATIONALS: May 27, 2021

2021 Poetry Out Loud State Judges Ali Oliver-Krueger is the Artistic Director of InterAct Story Theatre, an educational theatre company based in Wheaton. An artistic jack of all trades, Ali's broad arts and humanities background includes work as a director/playwright, composer, writer, performer, teaching artist, puppet builder, clown choreographer, and scholar.

Arao Ameny is a Ugandan-born poet and writer based in Baltimore, Maryland who loves poetry and prose equally and passionately. Arao is a graduate of University of Baltimore's MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts program and holds a MA in Journalism from Indiana University and a BA in Political Science from University of Indianapolis.

Desiree Witt has directed, choreographed, produced, music directed over 100 productions in various forms from choral music, musicals, ballets, plays, to variety shows.

She holds a B.S. in Music Education and M. Ed. in Dance Education from Frostburg State University. A member of MENC/MMEA, she holds a Maryland State Teaching certificate for Music K-12 and has been teaching in the state of Maryland for over 30 years.

Grace Cavalieri was appointed Maryland Poet Laureate on November 7, 2018 by Governor Larry Hogan. Grace Cavalieri is the author of 20 books and chapbooks of poetry. She's also written texts and lyrics performed for opera, television and film and has had 26 plays produced on American stages. Grace teaches poetry workshops throughout the country at numerous colleges.

Jeff Smallwood has been the featured poet at the Crofton Library Poetry Series and has been a regular contributor to the Poet's Circle workshop in Prince Frederick since 2016. Jeff works professionally as a software engineer at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and lives in Prince Frederick, MD. Emcee: Precious Blake, Arts in Education Program Director and Accessibility Coordinator Accuracy Judge: Catherine Frost, Arts in Education Grants Management Associate Tabulators: Catherine Frost and Lillian Jacobson, MSAC Regional Events Planner Digital Producer: Susan Zoll, Mid Atlantic Employer Association Captioning and ASL Interpretation: Karasch Associates MSAC Staff Volunteer: Derrick Quevedo

Round I Aimee Pentermann, King's Christian Academy “A Hymn to God the Father” by John Donne Colin Benedict, Severna Park High School “We Are of a Tribe” by Alberto Ríos Ellie Heath, Severna Park High School “The Cave” by Paul Tran Harrison Lynch, The King's Christian Academy “from The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Joseph Griffin, River Hill High School * “Mighty Pawns” by Major Jackson* Kate Maerten, Gerstell Academy * “Once the World Was Perfect” by Joy Harjo* Katherine Spencer, Indian Creek School “Friendship After Love” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox Paula Yeboah, Wilde Lake Highschool “Emily Dickinson at the Poetry Slam” by Dan Vera *These recitation videos cannot be played during the livestreamed competition due to poem permissions.

BREAK FOR TABULATION - ROUND ONE

Virtual Performance by CHRISTYLEZ BACON

Christylez Bacon (pronounced: chris-styles) is a GRAMMY® Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Southeast, Washington, DC. As a performer, Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African djembe drum, acoustic guitar, and the human beat-box (oral percussion), all while continuing the oral tradition of storytelling through his lyrics.

Round II Aimee Pentermann, King's Christian Academy “The Darker Sooner” by Catherine Wing Colin Benedict, Severna Park High School “The Last Laugh” by Wilfred Owen Ellie Heath, Severna Park High School “Consider the Hands that Write this Letter” by Aracelis Girmay Harrison Lynch, The King's Christian Academy “I Am the People, the Mob” by Carl Sandburg Joseph Griffin, River Hill High School *”We Are Not Responsible” by Harryette Mullen* Kate Maerten, Gerstell Academy “No, I wasn’t meant to love and be loved” by Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib Katherine Spencer, Indian Creek School “My partner wants me to write them a poem about Sheryl Crow” by Kayleb Rae Candrilli Paula Yeboah, Wilde Lake Highschool * “Much Madness is divinest Sense – (620)” by Emily Dickinson* *These recitation videos cannot be played during the livestreamed competition due to poem permissions.

BREAK FOR TABULATION - ROUND TWO Virtual Performance by REGIE CABICO

Regie Cabico is the first Asian American to win the Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam and received top prizes in 3 National Poetry Slams. He has appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, TEDx Talk and NPR's Snap Judgement. He is a teaching artist at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the board chair for Split This Rock.

Announcement of Top Three Students Competing in Round III Only the top three scoring students will compete in the final round to determine their placement.

Round III Aimee Pentermann, King's Christian Academy “Threshold” by Maggie Smith Colin Benedict, Severna Park High School “The Time I’ve Lost in Wooing” by Thomas Moore Ellie Heath, Severna Park High School “The moon now rises to her absolute rule” by Henry David Thoreau Harrison Lynch, The King's Christian Academy *”Recess” by Maria Hummel* Joseph Griffin, River Hill High School “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley Kate Maerten, Gerstell Academy “The Pull Toy” by A.E. Stallings Katherine Spencer, Indian Creek School “Semi-Splendid” by Tracy K. Smith Paula Yeboah, Wilde Lake Highschool *”Apollo” by Elizabeth Alexander* *These recitation videos cannot be played during the livestreamed competition due to poem permissions.

BREAK FOR TABULATION - ROUND THREE Virtual Performance by CECILY

Cecily (pronounced ses-suh-lee) is a DC-based vocalist and songwriter known for her agile soprano and honest lyrics. Her sound, as soothing as it is rich, is rooted in a deep appreciation for mid-century soul and jazz, 90’s R&B, and re-imagined folk music. Soulbounce says that Cecily creates “music that pulls from the past but looks toward the future” and "Her celestial vocal register and authentic lyrics place her in a lane that few can occupy."

Announcement of 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Winners Closing Remarks