Press Release
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(603) 271-3136 | shelly.angers@dncr.nh.gov
20th year of NH high school competition Poetry Out Loud sets dates, locations for semi-finals
As winter temperatures continue to fluctuate, high school champions from across the state are warming up their vocal chords and stretching their presentation skills in preparation for the upcoming semi-finals of the N.H. Poetry Out Loud competition, now in its 20th year.
The N.H. State Council on the Arts, which administers the program in the state, today announced that three semi-finals will take place this February:
- Simon Center Great Room, New England College, Henniker; Feb. 11, 6 p.m. (snow date: Feb. 12)
- Silver Center for the Arts, Plymouth State University; Feb. 13, 6 pm (snow date: Feb. 14)
- Rochester Opera House, Feb. 18, 6 p.m. (snow date: Feb. 19)
Across two decades, tens of thousands of New Hampshire high school-aged students from public, private and parochial schools, as well as home-schooled students, have participated in Poetry Out Loud, memorizing and reciting poems they chose from more than 1,000 selected by the Poetry Foundation. In addition to learning poems and about poetry as a literary form, they sharpen their public speaking skills and build self-confidence.
“High school is a time when students become more involved in directing what they’re learning, and Poetry Out Loud certainly aligns with that,” said Adele Sicilia, director of the N.H. State Council on the Arts. “They drive their own learning process, choosing the poems they wish to memorize and how they will present them.
“Each year, participating students let us know what a positive experience Poetry Out Loud is for them,” Sicilia continued. “The Arts Council is celebrating its 60th year supporting the arts in New Hampshire in 2025 and Poetry Out Loud is definitely one of the most beloved programs we provide.”
Poetry Out Loud school champions advance to semi-finals, then top semi-final finishers move on to the New Hampshire state championship, scheduled to take place in Representatives Hall at the State House on March 14.
State champions from across the country then have the opportunity to participate in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, scheduled for May 5-7, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Funding for Poetry Out Loud is provided by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. In New Hampshire, additional support comes from Brightspot Consultants; the Currier Museum of Art; the Frost Place; North Country Education Services; the Putnam Foundation, a donor-advised fund of the N.H. Charitable Foundation and Slam Free or Die.
To learn more about 2025 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud, visit nharts.dncr.nh.gov/programs/poetry-out-loud. For additional information, contact Allison Hawkins, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts at 603-271-0791, allison.hawkins@dncr.nh.gov.
The N.H. State Council on the Arts, a division of the N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, enhances the quality of life in New Hampshire by stimulating economic growth through the arts, investing in the creativity of students, making the arts accessible to underserved populations and preserving heritage arts. Learn more about the N.H. State Council on the Arts at nharts.dncr.nh.gov.
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