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 11, Villa Madonna Academy
Olivia is an avid reader and writer with an intense passion for speculative fiction and dark fantasy. She's been writing for 7 years and recently won a gold key for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She dreams of being a full-time author and a New York Times bestseller.
Grade 11, School for Creative and Performing Arts
Studies with Just Off Broadway
Nora is a dance major, in her 12th year attending the School for Creative and Performing Arts. She began her dance training at the age of 2.5, studying the many different genres of dance. Nora plans to continue studying dance and her love for the arts for many years.
Grade 10, Walnut Hills High School
Studies with Dr. Laura Sabo
Mario Ynga-Orellana grew up surrounded by music through his family traditions from Bolivia. Initially an accordionist, he discovered the clarinet, drawn to its elegance and expressive color. He is the principal clarinet of the OMEA All-State Band and a CSYO Norman E. Johns Chair awardee. Mario is also a committed mathematics enthusiast and a proud older brother of twins.
Grade 11, Sycamore High School
Studies with Musical Arts Center
Jai’Den has always been passionate about theatre. He was recently named a Winner with Distinction in the National Young Arts Competition for Musical Theatre. Jai’Den plans to get a BFA in Musical Theatre and thanks everyone who has supported his journey, especially his voice teacher, Karl Resnik, and his family along the way gratefully.
Grade 12, School for Creative and Performing Arts
Edie Anderson has been telling stories through her art for her entire life. Her comics and illustrations have won numerous gold keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, as well as a gold seal in the Cincinnati Public Schools citywide art show. Her dream is to write and illustrate graphic novels and share her stories with the world.
Grade 12, Saint Xavier High School
Studies with Musical Arts Center
William has had a deep love of studying and performing classical music since the 7th grade. William recently placed first in the Matinee Musicale Competition, and he was a finalist in the Overture Awards in 2025, and a semifinalist in 2024. He is a senior at St. Xavier High School and is excited to keep performing in his future!
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. Nominations are due January 26, 2026.
We would like to thank the following supporters of Dancing For the Stars and the Overture Awards:
Accent on Cincinnati, Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, Punky’s Pixels, Summerfair Cincinnati, TriHealth, Ryan Anderson, Douglas Beal, Karla Boldery, James Branham, Bonita Brockert, Carri Chandler, Bill Chappie, Johnn Chu, Maura Garrucio, Desiree Mainous, Erin Mignano, Dylan Morton, Joszef Parragh, Stacy Sims, Josh Tilford, Lenny Tsorokean Chris & Janeen (of “Married with Microphones”), JD Hughes, Baru, Delightmore, eat well celebrations and feasts, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Kung Food AmerAsia, Moerlein Lager House, The Party Source, Pepsi, Prime Cincinnati, Sebastian Bakehouse, Skyline Chili, Street City Pub, Vintage, Willow Run Custom Bourbons
