OLYMPIA – Two students from Okanogan County will compete in the National Poetry Aloud Contest on March 12.
Malina Weigel, Okanogan High School, and Bela Moore, Methow Valley Independent Learning Center in Twisp, will represent Eastern Washington in the online competition.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s national final will be broadcast on YouTube. A limited audience will see the contest in person, ArtsWA said.
The video will also feature young Seattle poet Zinnia Hansen as host and music for the Kareem Kandi World Orchestra.
Each student chose poems to recite from an online anthology of over 1,100 classic and contemporary poems. They had access to support material to help them understand and convey the poets’ intentions.
Judges scored them on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic relevance, evidence of comprehension, and overall impact.
The other finalists are Isabel Bennett, Colville; Sinai Flores, North Thurston High School, Olympia; Kate Gemmell, Kamiakin High School, Kennewick; Serena Jenson, Bickleton High School, Grandview; Lucy Laybourn, Lincoln High School, Seattle; Josie Rinta, Ridgefield High School, and Lucy Shainin, Anacortes High School.
