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.