Who Will Be the Next Bard?

If there is one event that display the wonder of a young life that has been exposed to the beauty of a classical education, it would be the Bard. A Bard is defined as “a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds.” The word “Bard” immediately evokes a mental image of William Shakespeare, complete with his up-turned mustache and ruffled collar. He is commonly known as The Bard of Avon, a title given to him in recognition for being a master poet. At Great Hearts, the Bard Competition is a tradition and a celebration of poetry where scholars are selected from each local archway in Arizona to compete in the region-wide championship.

“Archway Glendale is excited to host the annual Great Hearts Archway Bard competition. Every Archway campus will be represented with a Bard competitor,” said Dean of Students, Joy Hanks. “We welcome everyone to attend to support their academy Bard on Friday, April 14th at 6:30 pm inside the Lund Center of the Veritas Prep campus.”

Those who are unable to attend in person are in luck. The event will be streamed live again this year. Watch the presentation from the comfort of your own home using the following links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQoDZXeX81M
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatHeartsAcademies/live_videos/

Finalists will recite from memory a poem or excerpt and will be scored by a panel of judges. “I’ve had the privilege of being a judge at the Bard competition for a few years now and have loved every moment of it,” said Cammie Passey, Director of Curriculum in Lower Schools. “Each year, the judges are provided a standardized evaluation rubric to help us identify the students who present commanding and engaging performances which do not overshadow the content of the poem. It’s a tricky balance to strike and the close final scores reflect that challenge!” Scores are given for physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance. Accuracy is also a component.

By the end of the night, a new Bard will be named as we celebrate Truth, Goodness, and Beauty through poetry. Who will be the next Bard?

Great Hearts Bard Finalists:

• Vidyuth N. from Archway Anthem reciting “If” by Rudyard Kipling
• Kaitlin G. from Archway Arete reciting “Love (III)” by George Herbert
• Riell A. from Archway Chandler reciting “Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2” by William Shakespeare
• Lincoln C. from Archway Cicero reciting “The Trees are Down” by Charlotte Mew
• Sam S. from Archway Glendale reciting “First Inaugural Address” by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Deborah K. from Archway Lincoln reciting “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
• Riney S. from Archway North Phoenix reciting “Casey at the Bat” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Elinor P. from Archway Roosevelt reciting “A Dialogue between the Soul and the Body” by Andrew Marvel
• Eva K. from Archway Scottsdale reciting “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Ava W. from Archway Trivium reciting “Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 4” by William Shakespeare
• Mya T. from Archway Veritas reciting “The Owl-Critic” by James Thomas Field
• Chloe C. from Maryvale Prep reciting “Human Family” by Maya Angelou

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