Fresh Voices Poetry Competition

Hill-Stead Museum is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Fresh Voices Poetry Competition!

We are thrilled to bring the Fresh Voices Poetry Competition back to Hill-Stead during National Poetry Month this April. Submissions are now open, and we encourage all applicants. Please see the details below, or the submission guidelines and entry form.

Fresh Voices Poetry Competition is an outstanding program that offers students the opportunity to write and perform poems suitable for presentation and publication. The highly selective competition features a rigorous judging process, a focused workshop with professional poets, and special recognition. Since 1993, student poets from all corners of Connecticut have entered this competition.

Entries must be received by March 3, 2023

Entry Form
Submission Guidelines

Awards

  • Perform for the Fresh Voices Competition & Celebration at HillStead Museum.
  •  Poems published in museum’s online poetry journal, Theodate
  •  Monetary awards for all Fresh Voices winners
  • FREE workshop by a local professional poet
  • Winners announced on Hill-Stead Museum’s social media and website

Dates to know

Friday, March 3  |  Entry deadline
Friday, March 31  |  Finalists announced via email and museum website
DATE TBD   |  Workshop for the finalists in preparation for adjudicated readings
Friday, April 21  |  Finalists read before judges and audience; winners are announced. Reception to follow.  Participation of finalists is required.

Previous Winners

2021

Read the poetry of the 2021 winning poets in the February 2022 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Eve Brouillard Rockville High School
  • Nora Holmes William H. Hall High School
  • JaMara Jean Westover School
  • Valli Pendyala South Windsor High School
  • Cindy Truong ACES Educational Center for the Arts

2020

Read the poems by the 2020 winners in the January 2021 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Haneen Alkabasi Avon High School
  • Alicia Chiu William H. Hall High School
  • Jake Colangelo Joel Barlow High School
  • Olatunji Osho-Williams Westminster School
  • MM Odom The Grove School
  • Charlotte Watts Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

2019

Read the poems by the 2019 winners in the January 2020 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Sophia Ciraldo Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Danny Diaz-Villafane  Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Stella Georgian  East Lyme High School
  • Autumn Munsell  Granby Memorial High School
  • Camden Robertson  Granby Memorial High School
  • Ava Varano Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

2018

Read the poems by the 2018 winners in the May 2019 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Vanecia Fultz  Rockville High School
  • Rachel Justice  Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Sarah Lewis  Hall High School
  • Ellis McGinley  Arts at the Capitol Magnet School
  • Youssef Mezrioui  Rockville High School
  • Alex Nordlund  Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

2017

Read the poems by the 2017 winners in the January 2018 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Joyce Hida, Rockville High School
  • Sophia Durand, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Rachel Horowitz-Benoit, EO Smith High School
  • Verne Mackoff, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Sophie Spaner, Valley Regional High School

 2016 

Read the poems by the 2016 winners in the January 2017 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Owen Elphick, E.O. Smith High School
  • Chloe Ezzo, Kingswood Oxford
  • Leah Nashel, Westover School
  • Jossary Padilla, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Abbey Rose Popolizio, Haddam-Killingworth High School

2015

Read the poems by the 2015 winners in the March 2016 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Cole Adams, Kingswood-Oxford
  • Avery Christensen, Rockville High School
  • Khadija Hussain, Wilber Cross High School
  • Joscelyn Norris, Westover
  • Kaleigh Perkins, Rockville High School

2014

Read the poems by the 2014 winners in the February 2016 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Shana Blatt, ACES Education Center for the Arts (New Haven)
  • Colleen Feeney, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
  • Sophia O’Brien-Udry, ACES Education Center for the Arts (New Haven)
  • Taite Puhala, Westminster School (Simsbury)
  • Wenell St. Hill, Great Hartford Academy of the Arts

2013

Read the poems by the 2013 winners in the February 2016 issue of Theodate: An Online Poetry Journal.

  • Julia Alexander
  • Horlando De los Santos
  • Trey Geisman
  • Hayley Kolding
  • Essence McDonald

2012

  • Alexandra Asal
  • Sophie Dillon
  • Shameil Dias
  • Amanda Goode
  • Shannon Haaland
  • Ellie Woznica

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