Last Word Poetry Slam and Battle of the Bands hits the stage Friday
NORWICH – The Chenango County Council of the Arts will host the first-ever Last Word Battle of the Bands and Poetry Slam from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday in the Martin W. Kappel Theater, 27 West Main St.
According to the students of Norwich High School English Teacher Richard Bernstein’s mixed-group poetry and creative writing class, the event was created as a means to expose the community to the art of competitive performance poetry.
NHS junior Shelby Condon said she and her fellow classmates feel there simply aren’t enough opportunities available for students and the community to experience the unique art form. By including a Battle of the Bands as part of the event, the students are hoping to draw even more people, as “music and poetry are so closely related,” she added.
According to the group of NHS juniors and seniors, the theme of the competition was inspired by poet William Blake, who wrote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.”
The competition will kick-off with a special guest performance by award-winning poet and NHS alum Kirsten Tomanocy, captain of the SUNY Oneonta Poetry Slam Team. Approximately a dozen student poets will then compete in a two-round, all original poetry slam, with another former NHS student and award-winning poet, Nolan Guiffre, acting as master of ceremonies.
The Battle of the Bands will follow, said the students, with performances by NHS’s own The Marlboro Jacks, The Other Side of the Pillow and The Society of Righteous and Harmonius Fifths. Avid Rox, comprised of students from Walton High School, will also perform, with NHS senior Mike McBride taking over as master of ceremonies.
A panel of local, “celebrity” judges will determine the night’s winners, said Bernstein, and there are still a few slots open for the poetry slam segment of the competition, if any other area high school students are interested.
“Basically, this is going to be the best concert you’ve ever been to, times ten,” said Condon. “That’s the last word.”
Fellow student Courtney Becker wasn’t willing to go quite that far, but said she simply hopes the event generates an increased interest in poetry, music and the arts.
“Artists need to create their own space in the classroom, beyond the space in their heads, but they also crave a public space for their work,” said Bernstein. “The public needs this artistic space that the artists create as well, as much as the artists do. That’s what we hope to create.”
Admission for the competition is $4 and the doors will open at 6:15 p.m. For more information or to sign-up for the poetry slam contact Bernstein at 334-1600.
According to the students of Norwich High School English Teacher Richard Bernstein’s mixed-group poetry and creative writing class, the event was created as a means to expose the community to the art of competitive performance poetry.
NHS junior Shelby Condon said she and her fellow classmates feel there simply aren’t enough opportunities available for students and the community to experience the unique art form. By including a Battle of the Bands as part of the event, the students are hoping to draw even more people, as “music and poetry are so closely related,” she added.
According to the group of NHS juniors and seniors, the theme of the competition was inspired by poet William Blake, who wrote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.”
The competition will kick-off with a special guest performance by award-winning poet and NHS alum Kirsten Tomanocy, captain of the SUNY Oneonta Poetry Slam Team. Approximately a dozen student poets will then compete in a two-round, all original poetry slam, with another former NHS student and award-winning poet, Nolan Guiffre, acting as master of ceremonies.
The Battle of the Bands will follow, said the students, with performances by NHS’s own The Marlboro Jacks, The Other Side of the Pillow and The Society of Righteous and Harmonius Fifths. Avid Rox, comprised of students from Walton High School, will also perform, with NHS senior Mike McBride taking over as master of ceremonies.
A panel of local, “celebrity” judges will determine the night’s winners, said Bernstein, and there are still a few slots open for the poetry slam segment of the competition, if any other area high school students are interested.
“Basically, this is going to be the best concert you’ve ever been to, times ten,” said Condon. “That’s the last word.”
Fellow student Courtney Becker wasn’t willing to go quite that far, but said she simply hopes the event generates an increased interest in poetry, music and the arts.
“Artists need to create their own space in the classroom, beyond the space in their heads, but they also crave a public space for their work,” said Bernstein. “The public needs this artistic space that the artists create as well, as much as the artists do. That’s what we hope to create.”
Admission for the competition is $4 and the doors will open at 6:15 p.m. For more information or to sign-up for the poetry slam contact Bernstein at 334-1600.
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