Students from 17school districts statewide will compete in Poetry Out Loud, a national initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, on February 23 in Raleigh. The statewide competition is coordinated by the North Carolina Arts Council.
The free event will include performances by several of the state’s most prominent spoken word artists and professional poets. Special guests include Kathryn Stripling Byer, North Carolina Poet Laureate and author of six books of poetry; Michael Beadle, a poet, teaching artist and award-winning journalist from western North Carolina; and Mimi Herman, a poet, consultant and statewide coordinator for Poetry Out Loud.
Master of ceremonies for the finalist program is Serena Ebhardt, a professional producer and actress. Ebhardt’s husband and partner in EbzB Productions, David zum Brunner, is master of ceremonies for the semi-finalist programs. Additional special guests include Mary Regan, executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council and The Low Quintet, an improvisational jazz group from Enloe High School in Raleigh.
The Skinny
What: Poetry Out Loud encourages students to memorize and recite poetry while mastering public speaking skills, building self-confidence and learning about their literary heritage. More than 50 schools statewide participated in the classroom and district level competitions, reaching more than 2,000 students statewide.
When: North Carolina’s semi-finals and finalist competitions are on Saturday, February 23. The first semi-finalist competition is at 12:15 p.m. and the second is at 2:30 p.m. The finalist competition is at 7 p.m.
Where: Auditorium of the North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
Details: The competitions, expected to last approximately one-and-one-half hours, are open and free to the public.
Filed under: General, Literature
