Overture Awards Winners 2019
CREATIVE WRITING: Maura O’Dea – grade 12, Ursuline Academy
HOMETOWN: Blue Ash, OH – Maura spends her time working backstage as stage manager, editing the creative writing section of the newspaper, and running the writing club she co-founded. Maura’s plans for the future include pursuing an English degree and publishing something beautiful one day.
DANCE: Jordan Slemons – grade 12, Anderson High School/Just Off Broadway
HOMETOWN: Anderson, OH – Jordan has been dancing for fifteen years at Just Off Broadway. She couldn't be happier to have been given this amazing opportunity to be a Finalist for Overture Awards. She wants to thank her family, teachers, and friends for always supporting her.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: Simon Bakos – grade 11, William Mason High School/DCG Studio
HOMETOWN: Mason, OH – Simon has been studying clarinet and bass clarinet for the past five years. He currently participates in the clarinet section of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. He was principal clarinet in the 2019 Ohio All-State Orchestra, and has performed with the William Mason Wind Symphony at the Midwest Clinic. He enjoys performing with his high school marching band, and looks forward to enjoying and supporting music in the future.
THEATER: Jonah Sorscher – grade 11, Indian Hill High School/Musical Arts Center
HOMETOWN: Camp Dennison, OH – Jonah is thrilled to perform at Overtures! Besides performing, he loves to write his own theater, producing an original musical, Alibi, this summer. He thanks the Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy, Musical Arts Center, Becky Childs, and his family and friends for their love and support.
VISUAL ART: Alyson Power – grade 12, Lakota West High School
HOMETOWN: West Chester, OH – Alyson’s mother, an art teacher, introduced her to art very early. Alyson has explored art her whole life. She will be majoring in Fine Art at either Miami or Ohio University. She’s won twenty Scholastic Art awards, including one National Medal, five Governor's Art Awards, and has displayed work at The Xavier Juried Exhibition.
VOCAL MUSIC: Lauren Maynus – grade 12, Ursuline Academy/Alison Acord
HOMETOWN: Amberly Village, OH – Lauren studies voice with Dr. Alison Acord, is a section leader with the PRPC choir under the direction of Dr. Tom Merrill, is on the Student Board at TX, and is honored to participate in the Overture Finals again this year! Lauren has been selected for the Met’s High School Opera Singer Intensive program this winter, will attend Schmidt Vocal Institute this summer, and plans to study Vocal Performance in the fall.