Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Third time’s a charm?

in News
Third time’s a charm?

LPHS junior Anna Alvin will compete in the Poetry Out Loud state finals in Helena on Saturday, March 4. The state champion will receive a trip to the national competition in Washington D.C. and a chance to take home a $20,000 first place prize. PHOTO BY PATTY HAMBLIN

Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
March 4, 2017

LPHS junior Anna Alvin heads to state poetry competition

By Patty Hamblin EBS Contributor

BIG SKY – Lone Peak High School junior Anna Alvin loves words—spoken words on stage, sung words in her a capella group, the written words of her fiction, and the read words of the countless books she’s devoured over the years.

Given this, it isn’t terrifically surprising that this linguistic lover has chosen to compete three times in Lone Peak High School’s school-wide poetry recitation contest, Poetry Out Loud. Alvin has taken first or second place all three times, and will now, once again, head to the state competition on Saturday, March 4 at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad

“Anna was immediately interested,” said Barbara Rowley, who as advisor to the school’s International Thespian Club, introduced the National Endowment for the Arts-sponsored nationwide contest to the school three years ago. “Her interest has never wavered, and she has what it takes—an ability to memorize, composure on stage, and a deep attachment to and understanding of the words she’s saying.”

The Poetry Out Loud school contest requires that students memorize two poems, one fewer than 25 lines in length and one pre-20th century. For the state title, she will memorize three poems. Points are deducted for the smallest inaccuracy—saying “a” instead of “the” is a one-point penalty. Artistic merit is equally important; students must express the meaning of the poem without acting or movement, but simply in the way they speak.

Alvin says she loves hearing the other contestants as well as participating. “When you hear someone else recite it, it is really interesting, like a good play or a song,” she said. For herself, Alvin describes the experience of reciting as “freeing.”

“I like to do it because I like how it feels to recite the poem,” Alvin said. “There is something very organic about it once you have it memorized and you are just saying it and letting it come out of you.”

Alvin will be reciting “Sweetness” by Stephen Dunn, “Epilogue” by Robert Browning, and a third as of yet undecided poem at the state finals. If she takes first place, Alvin and a chaperone will receive a trip to the national competition April 25-26 at The George Washington University in Washington D.C. and a chance to win a $20,000 first place prize.

The state competition begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 4 at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena with the final round beginning at approximately 12:45 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For details visit art.mt.gov.

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes

Upcoming Events

Jul 2
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 2
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Event Series

Community Yoga

Jul 2
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Post 99 Honey sales

Jul 2
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Pickup Ultimate Frisbee

Jul 3
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

Music in the Mountains: Yarn

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Gallatin Whitewater Fest celebrates community, competition and crowns river royalty
Local

Gallatin Whitewater Fest celebrates community, competition and crowns river royalty

July 1, 2025
Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy
Business

Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy

June 30, 2025
To the Tune of Hope
Featured

To the Tune of Hope

June 27, 2025
Big Sky Community Food Bank looks ahead to summer opportunities, reflects on pandemic challenges
Local

Big Sky Community Food Bank looks ahead to summer opportunities, reflects on pandemic challenges

June 26, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube