Results of the 2025 Shakespeare Competition
This past weekend the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University hosted the 49th annual Shakespeare Competition where dozens of awards and scholarships were given to drama, dance, and music students.
The competition is the largest scholastic Shakespeare competition in North America, and this year, over 3,000 students from 102 schools attended from Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, and Wisconsin. More than 300 coaches and teachers helped prepare these students for the competition.
From October 2 to 4, students competed before numerous adjudicators on the Festival’s stages and on SUU’s campus. More than 80 judges consisting of arts professionals with strong literary and performance backgrounds, including company members from the 2025 season at the Festival, provided feedback to participants.
The competition recognizes and educates students between second and twelfth grade in four areas: acting, dance/choreography, music, and technical theatre. At the conclusion of the competition, selected students received trophies, plaques, and scholarships to study with professionals at Southern Utah University and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
The competition is divided into six divisions: Buckingham (large schools), Oxford (medium schools), Cambridge (medium small schools), Westminster (small schools), Stratford (junior high and middle schools) and Essex (schools or groups which are not members of state high school associations).
Education Director Stewart Shelley is thrilled with how this year’s competition went. “This weekend has been truly inspiring, seeing so many young people deeply engaged with Shakespeare and theatre. It’s an honor to witness the exceptional work showcased throughout the competition and to watch students thrive, surrounded by peers who share their passion and dedication.”
ACTING COMPETITION
For the acting portion of the competition, students compete in monologues, duo/trio scenes, and ensembles. Monologue competitors present a two- to four-minute monologue from a Shakespeare play or sonnet for the judges. In the duo/trio scenes competition, two or three actors present a three- to five-minute scene from a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of students from a school present a six- to ten-minute Shakespearean scene.
In addition, first, second, and third place overall sweepstake prizes were awarded to the school in each division with the most total points from all categories.
Also, several scholarships are presented in the acting competition.
The first place winners in the duo/trio scene and monologue categories are awarded scholarships to either Southern Utah University or the Utah Shakespeare Festival summer classes, depending on the grade of the student.
Ray Jones Award: Given to seniors, this award is a $1,000 scholarship to Southern Utah University.
Barbara Barrett Award: Given to juniors and under, this award is a $500 scholarship to the Festival’s summer acting intensive Actor Training Camp or Junior Actor Training Camp.
Larry Lott Acting Award: In conjunction with the ensemble competition, judges annually recognize the best actor in an ensemble scene in each division. The recipient of this award received a trophy for his or her accomplishments and, if a senior, a $1,000 scholarship to SUU.
Here are the winners for the Acting Competition.
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Skyridge High School Sweepstakes Second Place: Westlake High School Sweepstakes Third Place: American Fork High School
Ensemble First Place: Skyridge High School Ensemble Second Place: American Fork High School Ensemble Third Place: Riverton High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Liam Huff and Lily Neff from Taylorsville High School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Emma Peart and Nate Myers from Westlake High School Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Haley Forsloff, Michael Jowett and Savanna Hull from Skyridge High School
Monologue First Place: Layna Johnson from Alta High School Monologue Second Place: Kylie Priday from Westlake High School Monologue Third Place: Kamryn Donio from Mountain Ridge High School
Barbara Barrett Award: Liam Huff and Lily Neff from Taylorsville High School Larry Lott Acting Award: AnnaBelle Taylor from Skyridge High School
OXFORD DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Hillcrest High School Sweepstakes Second Place: Brighton High School Sweepstakes Third Place: Corner Canyon High School
Ensemble First Place: Corner Canyon High School Ensemble Second Place: Hillcrest High School Ensemble Third Place: Brighton High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Airton Oliveira, Camille Fisher, and Sophia Magleby from Brighton High School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Gabe Abbott, Gideon Kirby, and Jordan Cecil from Hillcrest High School Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Cooper Runnells, Ginger Witkamp, and Henry Jeppeson from Hillcrest High School
Monologue First Place: Avery Rinke from Hillcrest High School Monologue Second Place: Alicia Cerda from Northridge High School Monologue Third Place: Brooklyn Lowell from Northridge High School
Ray Jones Award: Camille Fisher and Sophia Magleby from Brighton High School Barbara Barrett Award: Airton Oliveira from Brighton High School Larry Lott Acting Award: Vienna Van Dyke from Timpview High School
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: North Sanpete High School Sweepstakes Second Place: Canyon View High School Sweepstakes Third Place: Orem High School
Ensemble First Place: North Sanpete High School Ensemble Second Place: Orem High School Ensemble Third Place: Canyon View High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Olivia Tenney and Saxton Ballard from Hurricane High School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Andy Larsen, Aspen Tui, and Declan Mathews from North Sanpete High School Duo/Trio Third Place: Adelaide Call, Rose Despain, and Sarah Allred from Canyon View High School
Monologue First Place: Emma Wallace from North Sanpete High School Monologue Second Place: Treason Hayden from Cedar High School Monologue Third Place: Hudson Heath from Orem High School
Ray Jones Award: Emma Wallace from North Sanpete High School Larry Lott Acting Award: Bronwyn Harris from Canyon View High School
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School Sweepstakes Second Place: Rockwell Charter High School Sweepstakes Third Place: Karl G Maeser Prep Academy - High School
Ensemble First Place: Karl G Maeser Prep Academy - High School Ensemble Second Place (tie): American Preparatory Academy - Draper 3
Ensemble Second Place (tie): Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School Ensemble Third Place: American Preparatory Academy - West Valley
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Lily Bennion, Sophia Jones, and Taebria Bybee from Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Charlotte Heinrich, James Fox, and Serenna Ihrig from Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Anthony Fetzer and Dereck Quintana Vazquez from American Preparatory Academy - West Valley
Monologue First Place: Judy Lyman from Rockwell Charter High School Monologue Second Place: Ryker Trumble from Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School Monologue Third Place: Presley Call from City Academy
Ray Jones Award: Lily Bennion
Barbara Barrett: Sophia Jones and Taebria Bybee
Larry Lott Acting Award: Claire Davies from Karl G Maeser Prep Academy High School
STRATFORD DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: Karl G Maeser Prep Academy - Middle School Sweepstakes Second Place: Vista Heights Middle School Sweepstakes Third Place: Rockwell Charter Junior High School
Ensemble First Place (tie): Vista Heights Middle School
Ensemble First Place (tie): Vista School Ensemble Second Place: Rockwell Charter Junior High School Ensemble Third Place: Karl G Maeser Prep Academy
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Annie Kotter, Jonah Keele, and Levi Hilmo from Karl G Maeser Prep Academy - Middle School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Norah Davidson and Teagan Snow from Lake Mountain Middle
Duo Trio Scenes Third Place: Kennedi Karslven and Kyleen Engman from Vista Heights Middle School
Monologue First Place: Quincy Skousen from Karl G Maeser Prep Academy - Middle School Monologue Second Place: June Harrison from Rockwell Charter Junior High School Monologue Third Place: Cassandra Brown from Rocky Mountain Shakespeare Co. Junior High
Barbara Barrett Award: Quincy Skousen from Karl G Maeser Prep Academy Middle School
Larry Lott Award: Jaden Bartlett from Lake Mountain Middle School
ESSEX DIVISION
Sweepstakes First Place: First Stage Young Company Sweepstakes Second Place: Youth Theatre - University of Utah Sweepstakes Third Place: Ogden Shakespeare Festival - Arden Academy
Ensemble First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - Elementary Ensemble Second Place: First Stage Young Company Ensemble Third Place: Youth Theatre - University of Utah
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Alice Rivera and Benjamin Nowacek from First Stage Young Company Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Cameron Parke and Judson Smith from Youth Theatre - University of Utah Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Dia Adams and Margaret Thomas from Take Note Troupe
Monologue First Place: Reiley Fitzsimmons from First Stage Young Company Monologue Second Place: Paisley Stillman from Anchor Academy Jr. High Monologue Third Place: Clara Goñi Beneke from The Ogden Shakespeare Festival - Arden Academy
Ray Jones Award: Reiley Fitzsimmons from First Stage Young Company Larry Lott Award: Cora Alder from Link Education League
DANCE/CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETITION
For the dance portion, students were able to compete in duo/trio or ensemble groups. In the duo/trio competition, two or three dancers presented a three- to six-minute interpretation of a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of dancers interpreted a three- to six-minute Shakespeare play or sonnet.
Here are the winners for the Dance/Choreography Competition:
BUCKINGHAM DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Skyridge High School
Ensemble Second Place: Westlake High School
Ensemble Third Place: Mountain Ridge High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Caleigh Morley, Isabella Deschamps and Riley Duke from Cedar Valley High School
Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Bella Shaw, Sophie Gardiner, and Taya Mackintosh from Riverton High School
Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Alyviah Brownlee, Avery Larsen, and Hallie Hadlock from Westlake High School
OXFORD DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Skyline High School
Ensemble Second Place: Hillcrest High School
Ensemble Third Place: Timpview High School
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Piper Parker, Roxy Allen, and Roya Mares from Skyline High School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Bella Filmore, Brynlie Pearson and Kenzie Lamb from Timpview High School Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Aftyn Brown, Emma Berg, and Olivia Davis from Pleasant Grove High School
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Orem High School
Ensemble Second Place: American Leadership Academy - Spanish Fork
Ensemble Third Place: Timpanogos High School
Duo/Trio First Place: Baylee Brotherson and Cloe Bergeson from Orem High School Duo/Trio Second Place: Ellie Wahlquist, Hailey Murphy and Martina Cardenas from American Leadership Academy - Spanish Fork Duo/Trio Third Place: Ashlyn Burrup, Kristen Ehat, and Shelby Duke from Timpanogos High School
WESTMINSTER DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School
Ensemble Second Place: Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - High School
Ensemble Third Place: Juan Diego Catholic High School
Duo/Trio First Place: James Fox and Jordan Hurley from Liahona Preparatory Academy - High School Duo/Trio Second Place: Eliza George and Liesel Hanson from Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy - High School Duo/Trio Third Place: Audrey Cole and Hannah Klaja from Intermountain Christian School
STRATFORD DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Vista School Ensemble Second Place: Lake Mountain Middle School Ensemble Third Place: NA
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Jax Davis, Loya Wainwright, and Marshall Bracey from Vista School Duo/Trio Scenes Second Place: Allie Dow, Kate Collins, Sophia Valdez from Lake Mountain Middle School Duo/Trio Scenes Third Place: Claire Jacobsen and Mckinley Larsen from Crimson Cliffs Middle School
ESSEX DIVISION
Ensemble First Place: Youth Theatre at the University of Utah Ensemble Second Place: Youth Leaders for America Ensemble Third Place: Ogden Shakespeare Festival - Arden Academy
Duo/Trio Scenes First Place: Clara Goñi Beneke, Isaac Wandrey, Lillyan Lacey from Ogden Shakespeare Festival - Arden Academy
MUSIC COMPETITION
The music competition encourages students to explore the music of the Renaissance (music prior to 1650). Students were encouraged to utilize creative combinations of instruments; however, no instrumentation was required. The competition was split into four divisions: Troubadour (one to five participants), Minstrel (six to ten participants), Canzonetta (six to 16 participants), and Madrigal (17 plus participants). Choral pieces could be up to ten minutes in length.
Here are the winners for the Music Competition:
TROUBADOUR First Place: Adam Lindsay, Evelyn Shore, John Hamm, Kate Barnes, and Titus Tyler from Jordan High School Second Place: Brynlea Forchuk and Olivia Smith from Corner Canyon High School Third Place: Adele Ferrin, Hanah Morgan, Samara Nielsen, and Scarlett Bohls from Herriman High School
MINSTREL First Place: Herriman High School Second Place: Corner Canyon High School Third Place: Payson
CANZONETTA First Place: Herriman High School Second Place: Corner Canyon High School Third Place: Jordan High School
MADRIGAL First Place: Herriman High School Second Place: Canyon View High School Third Place: Corner Canyon High School
SWEEPSTAKES First Place: Herriman High School Second Place: Corner Canyon High School Third Place: Jordan High School
TECHNICAL THEATRE COMPETITION
The final competition was in the technical theatre area for students who work behind-the-scenes creating sound, lighting, props, scenery, make-up, and costumes. In the portfolio area, students were given the chance to have their technical and/or design portfolios evaluated by professionals in technical theatre. Technical theatre students were able to compete in Tech Olympics, with winners named in costumes, lighting, make-up, props, rigging, set construction, sound, and stage management. Overall school winners were also named. The best portfolio and runners-up were also recognized.
TECH OLYMPICS––INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
Costumes: Jocelyn Shuler from Salem Hills High School Lighting: Dylan Armstrong from Riverton High School Make-up: Camie Hopkins from Salem Hills High School Props: Blake Lofts from Westfield High School Rigging: Sophia Allen from Salem Hills High School Carpentry: Gaige Dupaix from Mountain Ridge High School Audio: Clark Fowler from Mountain Ridge High School Stage Management: Cassandra Valentine from Desert Pines High School
TECH OLYMPICS––OVERALL WINNERS
First Place (Gold Drill): Salem Hills High School (Overall Time = 7 min 10 sec) Second Place (Silver Spotlight): Mountain Ridge High School (Overall Time = 9 min 18 sec) Third Place (Bronze Boot): Hillcrest High School (Overall Time = 9 min 46 sec)
TECH PORTFOLIO WINNERS
Overall Winner: Elise Parry from Hillcrest High School Runners-up: Elsie Slabbert from Hillcrest High School
For more information on the Shakespeare Competition, visit competition.bard.org.
