Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. The Wilton High School Final is emceed by retired English teacher Sandy Sosom.
Poetry in motion began with three hundred students across 35 classrooms. In November student's recited a poem they had learned to their classmates and each class voted for the poem they would like to crown their classroom winner.
In mid December a semi-final was held with each classroom winner being judged to determine who would progress to the final showdown where nine finalists performed in front of an audience of their peers in the Little Theater.
Each finalist had to memorize two poems for the final. One of them had to be a pre-twentieth century poem, a challenge because of the difference in language that was used in older poetry.
Three Judges Barbara Cline, Linda Gregory and Bill McCarty critiqued each performance in terms of
physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding of the poem and overall performance.
"Students, in memorizing and reciting a poem, come to experience, understand and enjoy poetry in a profound way. They become attuned to the power of language, and their own power as people literally giving voice to a poem" Said Sosom about the benefits of the program
Wilton has been participating for 10 years, and our school champs have often landed in the top 5 at the State competition, and even won the State championship one year.
To learn more about the competition, visit the Poetry Out Loud website.
Congratulations this this year's finalists - Melissa Arenas, Sinead Roche, Haley Sayewitz, Lily Mikita,
Sarah Sneidman, Solomon Wozniak, Julia Rothstein, Nicholas Furst and Ben Grass.
The judges decisions awarded 2nd runner up Sarah Sneidman, 1st Runner up is Nicholas Furst and the winner was senior Julia Rothstein.
We wish Julia well as she progresses to the Connecticut state final on March 9th.
Published on Feb 11 2019 9:47 AM
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