Seventh Poetry Out Loud Finals Set for January 29

SIERRAVILLE — The seventh Poetry Out Loud Sierra County Finals will be held at the Sierraville School in Sierraville on Thursday, January 29, beginning at 6 PM. All persons are invited to attend and watch the competition to determine this year’s Sierra County Poetry Out Loud Champion.

Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, sponsored in California by the California Arts Council, and locally by the Sierra County Arts Council. Paul Guffin, of Downieville, is the Sierra County Poetry Out Loud Coordinator.

At the competition on January 29, three high school students (one from Downieville High School and two from Loyalton High School) will each recite two poems that they have memorized. They will be judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy.

The county champion will represent Sierra County at the California State finals, March 8-9, in Sacramento. The California champion will then represent the state at the national finals in May in Washington, D.C.

Persons attending the county finals are urged to arrive at least ten minutes before the 6:00 PM starting time, so as not to interrupt any student during their recitation. Also, no recording or photography is permitted during the competition. This is to enable the students to perform their recitations without distraction.