Riley O’Hara of Sonoma County Named California’s 2024 Poetry Out Loud State Champion.
Mendocino County’s Frej Barty also recognized as Poetry Ourselves winner for original student work, “Facing” .
Riley O’Hara of Sonoma County is this year’s California Poetry Out Loud state champion. A high-school sophomore from Sonoma Valley High School, the 16-year-old O’Hara took first place in the statewide recitation competition held March 17 and 18 in Sacramento. He will go on to represent the state of California at the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest beginning April 29 in Washington, D.C.

The 2024 State Finals marked the 19th year of California Poetry Out Loud, which encourages youth to learn about poetry through memorization and performance. This year also marked the first time in four years that the program returned from its modified virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic to a live, in-person, two-day event.

Mirabelle Lee, a 17-year-old junior at Palm Valley High School in Riverside County, was runner-up and will represent California in the national finals in the event O’Hara is unable to attend. Selah Johnson, a 16-year-old sophomore from The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles County, received an honorable mention.

Since 2019, California’s county champions have also been invited to submit original written works at the state level through the Poetry Ourselves creative writing contest. 

The winning piece for 2024, “Facing,” was written by 17-year-old Mendocino High School junior and Mendocino County Poetry Out Loud champion Frej Barty. Barty was invited to recite his original piece before a live audience during the first day of the state finals on Sunday, March 17.

“California is in great hands—witnessing these 51 champions represent regions throughout our great state was inspiring,” said California Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Brazell. “Their poise, their grace, their presence continue to reverberate and echo through the chambers. I know they will continue to use their creative power to uplift their communities and create a future where we all thrive.”