On Sunday, January 30, seven talented high school students, each from a different school, competed virtually in the Sonoma County Poetry Out Loud Showcase. High school participants offered pre-recorded recitations of well-known poems in two rounds. It was an inspiring and fun evening with over 40 audience members in attendance.
Chelle Servais, a junior at Santa Rosa High, took first place. Ella Wen from Maria Carillo High School was named the runner up, and third place went to Cris Nunez from Roseland University Prep. The full line up of reciters included River Underhill from Petaluma High School, Luisa Mezey from Piner High School, Reilly McKnight from West County High School and Lucas Anderson from Rancho Cotate High School.
Chelle recited two poems: "Portrait of My Gender as [Inaudible]" by Meg Day and "After the Dinner Party" by Adrienne Su.
Congratulations to all participants, and heartfelt thanks to the teachers and coaches who worked to help students prepare and record their recitations.
Chelle Servais will go on to the California state level of competition. We wish them all the best!
Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered statewide by the California Arts Council. In Sonoma County, California Poets in the Schools and Creative Sonoma collaborate to create the Poetry Out Loud program locally with additional support from the Sonoma County Vintner's Foundation.
