Results of the 48th Annual Shakespeare Competition
This past weekend the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University hosted the 48th annual Shakespeare Competition where dozens of awards, prizes, and scholarships were given to drama, dance, and music students.
The competition is the largest scholastic Shakespeare competition in North America, and this year, over 3,000 students from 101 schools attended from Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Idaho, and Wisconsin. More than 300 coaches and teachers helped prepare these students for the competition.
From October 3 to 5, students competed before numerous adjudicators on the Festival’s stages and on SUU’s campus. More than 80 judges consisting of arts professionals with strong literary and performance backgrounds, including company members from the 2024 season at the Festival, provided feedback to participants.
The competition recognizes and educates students between second and twelfth grade in four areas: acting, dance/choreography, music, and technical theatre. At the conclusion of the competition, selected students received plaques, prizes, and scholarships to study with professionals at Southern Utah University and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
The competition is divided into six divisions: Buckingham (large public high schools), Oxford (midsize public high schools), Cambridge (small public high schools), Westminster (private, charter, and parochial schools), Stratford (junior high and middle schools) and Essex (schools or groups which are not members of state high school associations).
Education Director Stewart Shelley is thrilled with how this year’s competition went. “We have so many schools and groups who return year after year. This is an important tradition for these students and teachers. We have new schools coming too, and it’s an incredible opportunity for all the participants to get professional feedback and revel in the art of William Shakespeare.”
ACTING COMPETITION
For the acting portion of the competition, students compete in monologues, duo/trio scenes, and ensembles. Monologue competitors present a two to four-minute monologue from a Shakespeare play or sonnet for the judges. In the duo/trio scenes competition, two or three actors present a three to five-minute scene from a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of students from a school present a six to ten-minute Shakespearean scene.
In addition, first, second, and third place overall sweepstake prizes were awarded to the school in each division with the most total points from all categories.
Also, several scholarships are presented in the acting competition:
The first place winners in the duo/trio scene and monologue categories are awarded scholarships to either Southern Utah University or the Utah Shakespeare Festival summer classes, depending on the grade of the student.
Ray Jones Award: Given to seniors, this award is a $1,000 scholarship to Southern Utah University.
Barbara Barrett Award: Given to juniors and under, this award is a $500 scholarship to the Festival’s summer acting intensive Actor Training Camp or Junior Actor Training Camp.
Larry Lott Acting Award: In conjunction with the ensemble competition, judges annually recognize the best actor in an ensemble scene in each division. The recipient of this award received a trophy for his or her accomplishments and, if a senior, a $1,000 scholarship to SUU.
Here are the winners for the Acting Competition.
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Corner Canyon High School
Sweepstakes Second Place: Lehi High School
Sweepstakes Third Place: Skyridge High School
Ensemble First Place: Corner Canyon High School
Ensemble Second Place: Lehi High School
Ensemble Third Place: Skyridge High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Ellie Walsh and Ezekial Binkard (Westlake High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Kaiya Sharp and Paul Witzel (Corner Canyon High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Izzy Anderson and Hannah Lewis (Lehi High School)
Monologue First Place: Alex Hsiao (Skyridge High School)
Monologue Second Place: Nora Booth (Westlake High School)
Monologue Third Place: Kaleb Phillips (Lehi High School)
Ray Jones Award: Alex Hsiao (Skyridge High School); Ellie Walsh and Ezekial Binkerd (Westlake High School)
Larry Lott Acting Award: Aubrey Boman (Corner Canyon High School)
OXFORD DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Hillcrest High School
Sweepstakes Second Place: Brighton High School
Sweepstakes Third Place: Orem High School
Ensemble First Place: Hillcrest High School
Ensemble Second Place: Brighton high School
Ensemble Third Place: Valencia High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Claire Bartlett, Ryan Rasch, and Cooper Runnells (Hillcrest High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Gideon Kirby and Caleb Timmerman (Hillcrest High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Camie Hopkins and Nate Thorne (Salem Hills High School)
Monologue First Place: Riley Thompson (Hillcrest High School)
Monologue Second Place: Eliza Moises (Orem High School)
Monologue Third Place: CaRina Day (Timpanogos High School)
Ray Jones Award: Riley Thompson and Ryan Rasch (Hillcrest High School)
Barbara Barrett Award: Claire Bartlett and Copper Runnells (Hillcrest High School)
Larry Lott Acting Award: Lucia Glime (Brighton High School)
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Canyon View High School
Sweepstakes Second Place: Northridge High School
Sweepstakes Third Place: North Sanpete High School
Ensemble First Place: Canyon View High School
Ensemble Second Place: Northridge High School
Ensemble Third Place: North Sanpete High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Max Brown, Alicia Cerda, and Michael Hibbert (Northridge High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Andy Larsen, Jules Wilson, and Lin Anderson (North Sanpete High School)
Duo/Trio Third Place: Charlotte Pulica and Sabrina Grimshaw (Canyon View High School)
Monologue First Place: Emma Wallace (North Sanpete High School)
Monologue Second Place: Lucy Sorber (Mountain View High School)
Monologue Third Place: Jey Stucki (North Sanpete High School)
Barbara Barrett Award: Max Brown, Alicia Cerda, and Michael Hibbert (Northridge High School), Emma Wallace (North Sanpete High School)
Larry Lott Acting Award: Beth Manwill (Northridge High School)
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School
Sweepstakes Second Place: Rockwell Charter High School
Sweepstakes Third Place: American Leadership Academy Spanish Fork - Senior High
Ensemble First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School
Ensemble Second Place: American Leadership Academy Spanish Fork - Senior High
Ensemble Third Place: Intermountain Christian School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Benjamin Decker, Samuel Vick, and Peter Dowdle (Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Anthony Lombardi and J.J. Betts (Providence Hall High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Samuel Smith and Evey Jackson (American Heritage School - SLC High School)
Monologue First Place: Scarlet Boss (Rockwell Charter - High School)
Monologue Second Place: Jacob Keller (Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - High School)
Monologue Third Place: Charlotte Heinrich (Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School)
Ray Jones Award: Scarlet Boss (Rockwell Charter - High School); Benjamin Decker, Samuel Vick, and Peter Dowdle (Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - High School)
Larry Lott Acting Award: Scarlet Boss (Rockwell Charter - High School)
STRATFORD DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - Middle School
Sweepstakes Second Place: Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - Middle School
Sweepstakes Third Place: Vista Heights Middle School
Ensemble First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - Middle School
Ensemble Second Place: Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - Middle School
Ensemble Third Place: Vista Heights Middle School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Levi Hilmo, Adam Jensen, and Nicholas Jackson (Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - Middle School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Jocelyn Hellewell and Haley Anderson (Vista Heights - Middle School)
Duo Trio Scenes Third Place: Madison Flowers and Macy Upstill (Vista Heights - Middle School)
Monologue First Place: Ally Rees (Liahona Preparatory Academy - Middle School)
Monologue Second Place: Kyler Seamons (Liahona Preparatory Academy - Middle School)
Monologue Third Place: Hallie Springer (Lake Mountain Middle School)
Barbara Barrett Award: Ally Rees (Liahona Preparatory Academy); Levi Hilmo, Adam Jensen, and Nicholas Jackson (Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - Middle School)
Larry Lott Acting Award: Cannon Rockwood (American Heritage School - SLC Junior High)
ESSEX DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: First Stage Young Company
Sweepstakes Second Place: Take Note Troupe
Sweepstakes Third Place: Dixie Leadership Academy
Ensemble First Place: First Stage Young Company
Ensemble Second Place: Take Note Troupe
Ensemble Third Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - Elementary
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Maya Thomure and Max Larson (First Stage Young Company)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Lola Onorato, Thomas Bastardo, and Lucy Kuhnen-Grooms (First Stage Young Company)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Blake Nelson, Oakley Brewster, and Bella Richey (Dixie Leadership Academy)
Monologue First Place: Josephine Van Slyke (First Stage Young Company)
Monologue Second Place: Paisley Stillman (QQAAC)
Monologue Third Place: Elena Marking (First Stage Young Company)
Ray Jones Award: Josephine Van Slyke (First Stage Young Company)
Barbara Barrett Award: Maya Thomure and Max Larson (First Stage Young Company)
Larry Lott Award: Madison Jones (First Stage Young Company)
DANCE/CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETITION
For the dance portion, students were able to compete in duo/trio or ensemble groups. In the duo/trio competition, two or three dancers presented a three to six-minute interpretation of a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of dancers interpreted a three to six-minute Shakespeare play or sonnet.
Here are the winners for the Dance/Choreography Competition:
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Skyridge High School
Ensemble Second Place: Westlake High School
Ensemble Third Place: Lone Peak High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Alyviah Brownlee, Hallie Hadlock, and Sadie Gatherum (Westlake High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Arath Cardona, Elisabeth Bessette, and Baylie Spainhower (Taylorsville High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Brynlee Turner, Rylie Jones, and Elle Jones (Skyridge High School)
OXFORD DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Orem High School
Ensemble Second Place: Olympus High
Ensemble Third Place: Provo High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Jayde Garrett and Aubrey Child (Pleasant Grove High School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Lily Cannon, Lucy Richards, and Charlotte Johnsen (Olympus High)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Layla Filby, Kaden Gatherum, and Mareli Perez (Kearns High School)
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Murray High School
Ensemble Second Place: Desert Hills High School
Ensemble Third Place: Mountain View High School
Duo/Trio First Place: Atley Larrabee, Kai Louderback, and Mattix Espinoza (Desert Hills High School)
Duo/Trio Second Place: Kate Lutkin, Sophie Ballard, and Hannah Bowen (Murray High School)
Duo/Trio Third Place: Ava Knudsen and Sabrina Gordon (Canyon View High School)
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: American Leadership Academy - Spanish Fork
Ensemble Second Place: Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts
Ensemble Third Place: Juan Diego Catholic High School
Duo/Trio First Place: Ellie Krull and Holly Richard (Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts)
Duo/Trio Second Place: Naomi Tveten, Ian Hadfield, and Sadie McGhie (Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School)
Duo/Trio Third Place: Isadora Salekfard and Kianna Cuthcins (Pacifica Christian High School)
STRATFORD DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Frontier Middle School
Ensemble Second Place: Vista School
Ensemble Third Place: Vista Heights Middle School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Jax Davis, Greyson Lefevre, and Brennon Gough (Vista School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Savannah Sheppard and Hannah Fowles (Frontier Middle School)
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Kaiya Wride, Savvi Wright, and Taylee Featherstone (Vista Heights Middle School)
ESSEX DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Saint Contemporary Ballet
Ensemble Second Place: Take Note Troupe
Ensemble Third Place: Youth Theatre - University of Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Linnea Lopez, Jhoryan Eggett, and Aspen Dail (Lighthouse Commonwealth of Iron County)
MUSIC COMPETITION
The music competition encourages students to explore the music of the Renaissance (music prior to 1650). Students were encouraged to utilize creative combinations of instruments; however, no instrumentation was required. The competition was split into four divisions: Troubadour (one to five participants), Minstrel (six to ten participants), Canzonetta (six to 16 participants), and Madrigal (17 plus participants). Choral pieces could be up to ten minutes in length.
Here are the winners for the Music Competition:
TROUBADOUR
First Place: Cambri Burgon, Camryn Pittard, and Lily Withers (Skyridge High School)
Second Place: Savannah Anderson, Morganne Strong, and Emilee Farmer (Romney Youth Bard Brigade)
Third Place: Elise Farmer (Herriman High School)
MINSTREL
First Place: Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts
Second Place: Pleasant Grove High School
Third Place: Corner Canyon High School
CANZONETTA
First Place: Pleasant Grove High School
Second Place: Corner Canyon High School
Third Place: Herriman High School
MADRIGAL
First Place: Corner Canyon High School
Second Place: Skyridge High School
Third Place: Herriman High School
SWEEPSTAKES
First Place: Pleasant Grove High School
Second Place: Corner Canyon High School
Third Place: Skyridge High School
TECHNICAL THEATRE COMPETITION
The final competition was in the technical theatre area for students who work behind-the-scenes creating sound, lighting, props, scenery, make-up, and costumes. In the portfolio area, students were given the chance to have their technical and/or design portfolios evaluated by professionals in technical theatre. Technical theatre students were able to compete in Tech Olympics, with winners named in costumes, lighting, make-up, props, rigging, set construction, sound, and stage management. Overall school winners were also named. The best portfolio and runners-up were also recognized.
TECH OLYMPICS––INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
Costumes: Lucy Rowley (Riverton High School)
Lighting: Matthew Estes (Mountain View High School)
Make-up: Dylann Miller (Corner Canyon High School)
Props: Peyton Bodily (Corner Canyon High School)
Rigging: Elise Parry (Hillcrest High School)
Carpentry: Catherine Tobler(Orem High School)
Audio: Jackson Christensen (Orem High School)
Stage Management: Harrison Treat (Hillcrest High School)
TECH OLYMPICS––OVERALL WINNERS
First Place (Gold Drill): Hillcrest High School
Second Place (Silver Spotlight): Salem Hills High School
Third Place (Bronze Boot): Riverton High School
TECH PORTFOLIO WINNERS
Overall Winner: Ophilia Cerda Echeverria (North Ridge High School)
Runners-up: Elise Parry (Hillcrest High School)
For more information on the Shakespeare Competition, visit competition.bard.org.
