Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest

Arts Council Napa Valley announces a countywide contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The competition, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. On February 12, two students from six Napa County high schools will participate in the Poetry Out Loud Napa County Contest at the Napa Valley Playhouse. The winner of this competition will advance to the State Poetry Out Loud finals The California champion will advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed. 

Featured speakers and participants will be:

Participating Schools: Vintage High School, Napa High School, New Technology High 
School, American Canyon High School, St. Helena High School, and Justin Sienna High School.

• Master of Ceremonies: Barry Martin- Actor and Director Lucky Penny Productions
  

• Professional Poetry Recitation: Leonore Wilson, Napa County Poet Laureate
  

• Judges: 
  

• Michael Ross, Napa Valley Playhouse Director

• Dr. Cynthia Westerbeck, Professor of English, Pacific Union College

• David Stevens, UC Davis Extension faculty, author and International wine competition judge

• Stephen Sossaman, writer, speaker, teacher, Professor Emeritus of English on the faculty of Westfield State University in Massachusetts, in creative writing and literature