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Finalists for Poetry in Voice, a $25K high school competition for reciting poetry, revealed

The finalists were chosen from over 10,000 Grade 9 to 12 students from 1,300 schools across the country.
Samraweet Yohannes · CBC ·
The Poetry In Voice's National Finals Awards show will be on April 19 at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. (Kane Reinholdtsen/Unsplash)

Poetry In Voice announced its 24 finalists for this year's National Finals Awards show this month, chosen from over 10,000 Grade 9 to 12 students from 1,300 schools across the country. Students across the country recite poetry to compete for $25,000 in prize money for themselves and their school libraries.

"Over 250,000 students have learned a poem by heart," said David Smith, director of Poetry In Voice, in a statement.

During the finals week in Toronto, the finalists will compete in French, English or bilingual qualifiers, as well as participate in workshops and an open mic night, among other activities.

The remaining nine students will compete for the titles of English, French or bilingual champion.

The year's jury of poets includes: Éric Charlebois, Liz Howard, Canisia Lubrin, Pierre Nepveu, Adam Sol and Erika Soucy. The event will be hosted by CBC Radio's Gill Deacon, on April 19, 2018 at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto.

"These students stand fearlessly in front of a packed theatre that goes completely quiet as they lift poems off the page," said Smith. "How many adults could do that? It's a refreshing, inspiring night for all of us."

The 24 finalists are:

  • Carly Benson, Windsor, Ont.
  •  Alice Blouin-Décoste, Lachine, Que.
  • Jeanne Cantin, Québec, Que.  
  • Ghada Charki, Saint-Lambert, Que.
  • Jia Xin Chen, Montréal, Que.
  • Michelle Cheng, Richmond Hill, Ont. 
  • Sophia Chu, Ottawa, Ont.    
  • Audrey Décarie-Truffer, Montréal, Que.
  • Geneviève Dubuc,  Vancouver, B.C.   
  • Aimee-Larissa Dushime, Windsor Ont.
  • Simon Duvialard, Calgary, Alta.
  • Chloe Harris, Montague, P.E.I.
  • Brittany Huellas-Bruskiewich, Port Coquitlam, B.C.          
  • Hamish Marissen-Clark, Vancouver, B.C.
  • Anna Navarro, Calgary, Alta.                                          
  • Gabrielle Nebrida-Pépin, Port Coquitlam, B.C.
  • Laura Beth Neuman, Kitchener, Ont.                               
  • Juliana Nunes, Coquitlam, B.C.
  • Charlie Rivard, Montréal, Que.                                         
  • Olivia Torralbo, Montréal, Que.
  • Pujita Verma, Mississauga, Ont.                                      
  • Mary Wan, Calgary, Alta.
  • Elizabeth Wong, Toronto, Ont.                                       
  • John Wood, Toronto, Ont.

The Poetry In Voice competition was created to foster a love of poetry among Canadian students. Now in its eighth year, the contest will feature top-scoring students from across the country.

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