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: Creative writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, Vocal Music.
Ever since she was little, Lauren has loved to write and tell stories. She primarily writes realistic fiction and fantasy. When she's not planning out her next novel, she's making plans as the president of the Springboro High School Writers' Club. She hopes to publish before she graduates, and looks forwards to being an author some day.
Devi has been an avid lover of books since she was three years old, and has been writing short stories ever since she was seven. She hopes to pursue a career in journalism and use her words to enact change, just like her role model Gloria Steinem.
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.
Angela spends much of her time crafting short stories, sharing an outlook on life as she sees it. A mentee in the Adroit Mentorship Program, Angela aims to convey intimate truths through storytelling. Her work has been recognized by contests like Scholastic and Bluefire, among others. As a writer, Angela attempts to bring what is felt to the page.
Hairston School of Dance
Captivated by ballet at just 3 years old, Brinkli Cox has been dancing through life! From portraying "the CryBaby" in The Cincinnati Ballet's "The Nutcracker" to the Sugar Plum Fairy with The Hairston School of Dance, Brinkli finds joy in embodying the characters she is portraying. She hopes for a long career as a professional ballet dancer.
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.
Just Off Broadway
Easton Gliebe is 17 and a Junior at Ohio Virtual Academy. He started dancing at the age of three and is a part of the Just Off Broadway performance and convention teams. He participates in theatre at Anderson High School and travels with Revel Dance Convention as their Pro Reveler of the Year.
Just Off Broadway
Riley has been practicing dance since she was 3 years old. She is trained in the styles of Jazz, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theater, and Tap. Her dream is to pursue her dance career collegiately to continue sharing her passion for dance.
Studies with Dr. Sarah Kim
Autumn has studied cello for 12 years. She made her solo debut in March 2025 with the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and was also featured as a soloist with the CSYO Philharmonic the same year. Outside of cello she enjoys drawing, baking, listening to music, and spending time outdoors.
Studies with Professor Alvin Chow
At 17, pianist-composer Sophia Suwiryo is a KNS Classical artist studying with Professor Alvin Chow. A Lang Lang Young Scholar and Chopin Foundation Scholar, she has performed with the Cincinnati Pops, debuted in Poland, Spain, and Singapore, and appeared at Carnegie Hall, inspiring audiences through refined artistry and musical excellence.
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.
Studies with Joyce Grabell
Grace has been playing Viola for 7 years, and plans to continue playing throughout her college career. In the past, she has earned 2nd in the AVS Junior Solo Competition, and won the Regional Irish Wendell Award. Currently, she is part of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras.
Studies with Adnrea Davies
Maeve has been singing and acting since she was 5 years old, and it's been her passion ever since. She most recently played Agnes in She Kills Monsters at Sycamore High School. She plans to major in Musical Theatre in college after high school. She was also an Overture Awards semi-finalist in 2025.
Studies with Xan Jeffery at Nothern Kentucky University
Avery has had a love for musical theater since she watched The 25th Anniversary of Phantom of the Opera when she was three. She studies voice with Xan Jeffery, is in regional musicals in Cincinnati, and is a part of The Children’s Theater of Cincinnati’s Junior Theater Festival Competition team. She plans to study Musical Theater in College.
Elliot has enjoyed performing for local audiences since age nine. Favorite recent roles include Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition (TCT Mainstage), Maureen in RENT: School Edition (CAST), Pearl in The SpongeBob Musical (Highlands HS), and Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein (PAl). She also enjoys bowling, playing guitar and viola, and plans to pursue musical theatre after high school.
Studies with Karl Resnik at 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.
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.
Studies with Yinyan Zhou at Yinyan Studio
Jinming has been drawing since the age of five and works with many mediums, including oil paint, watercolor, and clay. Her art has earned eleven awards from the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition and the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. Outside of art, she enjoys singing, volunteering, and binging TV shows in one sitting.
Riley's passion for the arts began since before she can remember. Even now, as a young adult her passion has stayed within the arts. She strives to create to share the story of her life, and how it has shaped the person you see today.
Ronan is a senior at Loveland High School, planning to pursue a career in industrial design with a focus on sustainability. As a student-athlete, Ronan has participated in the Biotech and AP art programs for two years, cofounded Loveland's climbing club, and competed for six years as a varsity cross country and track runner.
Studies with Talia Zoll at Talia Zoll Studio of Music
Genevieve placed first in the 2025 Matinee Musicale and was a finalist in Schmidt Vocal and UK Vocal Competitions. She earned the 2025 traineeship with Cincinnati Opera. She loves participating in her school's musicals, the Mayfest Choir, and is a golfer. Genevieve plans to major in vocal performance. She would like to thank her voice teacher, Talia Zoll, for her mentorship.
Studies with Karl Resnik and Sam Krausz at Musical Arts Center
Ray is a senior at CHCA who fell in love with performing his sophomore year and has been in several theatre productions. He started studying classical voice with Karl Resnik his junior year and is a part of the Young Artist Prep Program hosted by CCM. He plans to major in vocal performance in college.
Studies with Allison Highland
Studying Carnatic music since age 5, Sahana presented her first advanced Carnatic Vocal Concert in March 2025, continuing her training in the tradition. She also studies Western vocals, has performed at Carnegie Hall in the Choirs of America competition, and is passionate about musical theatre. Sahana plans to major in Psychology and continue her musical journey in college.
Studies with Karl Resnik at 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!
