The Overture Awards is a program that recognizes and rewards excellence in the arts among Greater Cincinnati students in grades 9-12. Its mission is to encourage arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience and to create an environment that encourages training in, and appreciation of, the arts.
The Overture Awards Competition is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines:
Grade 9, Talawanda High School
Evelyn has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember, spending all of her free time reading books and crafting stories that combine her passion for fantasy and mental health. With goals of becoming a clinical psychologist and author, she hopes that all of her tales provides three important things: perspective, critiques of society's largest problems, and escape from the exhausting rhythms of every day.
Grade 12, Dixie Heights High School/Strive Dance Collective
Audrey has been dancing since the age of 3. She has won numerous different awards, including receiving a perfect score on her solo and being an Overture 2024 finalist. She plans to attend college for nursing and become a travel nurse.
Grade 10, William Mason High School/Studies with Joel Smirnoff
Angela has been playing the violin for ten years. She is the assistant concertmaster at the CSYO Philharmonic Orchestra and was one of the finalists in the CSYO Concerto Competition. Angela is the state winner of MTNA Competition and Buckeye Audition. She played as a soloist with Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra as the winner of the 2024 competition. Outside of music, Angela loves astronomy, creative writing, and photography, and is an active member of her school's Science Olympiad Team.
Grade 10, Sycamore High School/Musical Arts Center
Jai’Den has been a part of musical theatre since he was 7. He studies voice with Mr. Karl Resnick and loves the mentorship and guidance he has given. Jai’Den won the Best Overall Performance award at the 2024 SHS Variety Show. He has been in many shows with Aves Theatre, including Willy Wonka Jr. (Charlie), Footloose: Youth Edition (Ren), Freaky Friday (Ensemble), Guys and Dolls (Sky), the current production of Between The Lines (Prince Oliver/Edgar), and the upcoming Mamma Mia! (Ensemble). He plans to major in Musical Theatre after graduation.
Grade 12, William Mason High School
Allison has been creating art for six years now and specifically fine-tuning my main media of alcohol marker and colored pencil for the past year. I have earned a national award from Scholastic as well as 5 gold keys for a portfolio and additional works. I plan on going to college to pursue Mechanical Engineering in the fall.
Grade 12, Turpin High School
Eden is a senior at Turpin High school, she has been doing musical theatre since elementary school, she loves to sing and act and do musical performances outside of school. She plans to major in musical theatre in college!
The Regional round of the competition will be held virtually through the Acceptd platform. The Semi-Final and Final rounds will take place in person at the Aronoff Center. Dates TBA.
The Arts Educator Award promotes and rewards excellence in arts instruction throughout Greater Cincinnati. Students nominate an educator through video submission that describes the impact the educator has had on his/her students. The winner will be announced at the Overture Awards Final Competition & Awards Ceremony.
