An auditorium full of people are watching a person on stage. “Poetry Out Loud" is projected behind the stage.

2022-23 Poetry Out Loud Information

Bringing poetry to life through performance

The words of great poets literally come to life in Poetry Out Loud (POL), a literary arts program created by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation. Through MSAC support, POL helps students across Maryland master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Since 2005, 4.1 million students and 68,000 teachers from 17,000 schools and organizations have competed in Poetry Out Loud nationwide. In Maryland, approximately 129,000 students have participated in the program, learning the power of poetry firsthand.

Poetry Out Loud Overview

2022-23 Competition Overview: 

This year, the Maryland State Arts Council is hosting the 2022-2023 Poetry Out Loud Competition Regional Competitions VIRTUALLY and the State Competition IN-PERSON! Regional and State competition dates will be announced in November. 

Who: 

Poetry Out Loud is open to all high school students. 

Awards:

Each winner at the state level receives at least $200 and the chance to compete for the national championship. The state winner’s school/organization receives $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up in each state receives at least $100, with $200 for their school. At the national finals, a total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends is awarded annually. Learn more about Poetry Out Loud here: poetryoutloud.org.

Regional: 

The Regional Competition was originally scheduled to take place virtually but due to popular demand, the Regional Competitions will return to in-person competitions for the 2022-23 school year! Students who have registered will recite three poems from the POL Anthology for a panel of judges at one of the four scheduled Regional Competitions below: 

February 18, 2023, 1-4 p.m.
Eastern Region 
Queen Anne's County Arts Council 
206 S Commerce St, Centreville, MD 21617

February 19, 2023, 1-4 p.m.
Western Region
The Delaplaine Arts Center 
40 S Carroll St., Frederick, MD 21701

February 25, 2023, 1:30-5 p.m.
Central Region 1
Howard County Center for the Arts 
8510 High Ridge Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

February 26, 2023, 1-4 p.m.
Central Region 2
Howard County Center for the Arts 
8510 High Ridge Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

State: 

The top two students from each regional competition will be invited to attend the State Competition where they will recite three poems from the POL Anthology for a panel of judges. 

Saturday, March 18, 1-5 p.m.
Reginald F. Lewis Museum 
830 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202

Rehearsals and Coaching: 

Students participating in the Regional and State Competitions will have access to a Poetry Coach prior to each competition. 

Other:

Please note Poetry Out Loud is not a creative writing competition and that Maryland is not sponsoring the original works competition, Poetry Ourselves, in 2022-2023. Find poems to recite in the digital POL Anthology, by clicking here

Registration for the 2022-23 school year closed on Tuesday, November 15, at 11:59 p.m. 

Please contact the Arts in Education Program Director, Lizzie Morales, at elizabeth.morales@maryland.gov if you wish to receive registration updates for the 2023-24 Poetry Out Loud competition. 

 

2023 POL State Competition

Young student reciting poetry on stage

Madison Harris, a ninth grade student from Indian Creek High School in Anne Arundel County, was selected as the Poetry Out Loud (POL) Maryland state champion on Saturday, March 18 during the state finals competition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. Madison was among nine finalists who were selected from 25 Maryland students representing eight counties that competed in the statewide competitions. The POL poetry recitation contest is co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Poetry Foundation, and administered by U.S. state arts agencies and regional organizations across the country. This year, the Maryland POL competition was produced by DewMore Baltimore in collaboration with MSAC.

Second place was awarded to Treston Melvin from Pocomoke High School in Worcester County, and third place went to Yasmin Roach from Wilde Lake High School in Howard County. The six remaining finalists were Chloe Choi (Montgomery), Fiona Guo (Worcester), Imari Owens (Carroll), Brennen Peroutka (Baltimore), Abigail Rakow (Montgomery), and Renee Si-ting Wu (Howard).  

Click here to view the recording of the 2023 Maryland Poetry Out Loud Competition.

Read below to learn more about 2023 State Champion Madison Harris: 

My name is Madison Harris. I am 14 years old and in the 9th grade at Indian Creek High School in Crownsville, Maryland. I have two younger siblings who are twins. I play the cello and I am a part of the Junior Varsity Tennis team. I love Legos and coding. I also love to bake. In my spare time, I like to listen to music and play games. My favorite artists are Tyler, The Creator, Kali Uchis, and Laufey. My favorite poets are Amanda Gorman, Rupi Kaur, and Alaska Lane. I loved my experience at the Poetry Out Loud State Competition, and I cannot wait for the National Competition!

2022 POL State Competition

Photo of Harrison

Harrison Lynch from The King’s Christian Academy in St. Mary’s County was selected as the Poetry Out Loud (POL) Maryland state champion on March 10th during state finals. He was among eight finalists who were selected from 25 Maryland students representing 13 counties that competed in the statewide competitions. The POL poetry recitation contest is co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Poetry Foundation, and administered by U.S. state arts agencies and regional organizations across the country. The Maryland POL competition is produced by MSAC.

Second place was awarded to Abigail Grove from Allegany High School in Allegany County, and third place went to Matthew Bacho from Severna Park High School in Anne Arundel County. The five remaining finalists were Peyton McDonald (Allegany County), Curtis Kemtchouang (Frederick County),

Yasmin Roach (Howard County), Roselyn Centeno (Montgomery County), and Treston Melvin (Worcester County).

 

2021 POL State Competition

2021 Maryland State POL Champion Kate Maerten looks up at the sky in awe of bubbles surrounding them.

Kate Maerten, a 12th grader at Gerstell Academy in Carroll County, was selected as the Poetry Out Loud (POL) Maryland State champion on March 9th during state finals. She was among eight finalists that were selected from 25 Maryland students in eight counties that competed in the statewide competitions. The POL poetry recitation contest is co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Poetry Foundation, and administered by U.S. state arts agencies and regional organizations across the country. The Maryland POL competition is produced by MSAC.

Second place was awarded to Paula Yeboah, an 11th grader at Wilde Lake High School in Howard County, and third place went to Harrison Lynch, an 11th grader at The King's Christian Academy in St. Mary’s County. The five remaining finalists were  Aimee Pentermann (St. Mary's County), Colin Benedict (Anne Arundel County), Ellie Heath (Anne Arundel County), Joseph Griffin (Howard County), and Katie Spencer (Anne Arundel County).

 

2020 POL State Competition

2020 Maryland State POL Champion Randolph Smith stands in front of a step and repeat banner with the MSAC Logo.


Randolph Smith, an 11th grader at Concordia Preparatory High School in Baltimore County, was selected as the 2020 Poetry Out Loud (POL) Maryland State champion on March 7th during state finals at Baltimore Center Stage.  He was among nine finalists that were selected from more than 24 Maryland students in nine counties that competed in the statewide competition. The POL poetry recitation contest is co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Poetry Foundation, and administered by U.S. state arts agencies and regional arts organizations across the country. The Maryland POL competition is produced by the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC).

Second place was awarded to Maylis Quesnel, a 12th grader at Richard Montgomery High School, Montgomery County, and third place went to Katie Spencer, a 10th grader at Indian Creek School, Anne Arundel County. The six remaining finalists were Joy Campbell (Frederick County), Allison (Faith) Comising (Howard County), Caroline Daley (St. Mary’s County), Ellie Heath (Anne Arundel County), Kate Maerten (Carroll County), and Sanjana Subramanian (Frederick County).

The NEA also produces Poetry Ourselves, an additional, optional competition that allows students to submit an original piece of poetry. The 2020 Maryland State Poetry Ourselves winner is Joy Campbell, an 11th grader at Oakdale High School in Frederick County. In 2021, the Poetry Ourselves competition will be suspended. Students interested in original poetry should refer to our POL Resources for writing competitions available throughout the state.