The mission of the Overture Awards is to encourage training in, and appreciation of, the arts, and to recognize and reward excellence in artistic achievement. The Overtures hopes to promote arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience, while cultivating an environment that fosters continuing arts education and training.
The Overture Awards Scholarship Competition is currently the region’s largest solo arts competition for high school students (grades 9-12). The Scholarship Competition rewards artistic excellence in six disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. Each year, students compete for six $2,500 scholarships (one for each discipline). The generosity of our sponsors has allowed us to also offer 18 finalist scholarships worth $500 each. The Overture Awards Program recruits judges for the competition from the professional arts community.
F I N A L I S T L I S T
CREATIVE WRITING
Hannalee Goldman – Sycamore HS – grade 11
Olivia Morris – Beechwood HS – grade 12
Emma Wahl – Mount Notre Dame HS – grade 12
Gina Wei – William Mason HS – grade 12
DANCE
Danielle Betscher – Just Off Broadway – grade 11
Drew Lovejoy – McGing Irish Dancers – grade 9
Ryan McCreary – Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet – grade 10
Jacob Thoman – Planet Dance – grade 9
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Kevin Bao – piano – Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy – grade 10
Thomas He idenreich – piano – CCM Prep – grade 11
Mariko Shimasaki – violin – CCM Prep – grade 11
Tracy Wong – piano – Sycamore HS – grade 11
VISUAL ART
Paloma Ianes – School for Performing and Creative Arts
Betsy Toadvine – Kings HS – grade 12
Nicole Volpenhein – Ursuline Academy – grade 12
Elaine Yung – Turpin HS – grade 12
THEATER
Shannon Beam – musical theater – Strakowski Song Studio – grade 12
Emily Kissela – musical theater – Sycamore HS – grade 11
Max Meyers – musical theater – Gina Cerimele-Mechley Acting Studio – grade 12
JoEllen Pellman – musical theater – Marilyn Zelcer studio – grade 10
VOCAL MUSIC
Christian Betts – Walnut Hills HS – grade 12
Tyler Blincoe – Villa Madonna Academy – grade 12
Holly Reckers – Mother of Mercy HS – grade 12
Megan Terlau – Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy – grade 12
The Finals Competition and Awards take place on Saturday, March 3 in the Jarson-Kaplan Theater at the Aronoff Center.
For ticket information please visit http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/index.jsp?eventDetail=1&event_id=1275
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 