Piano Slam 2022 Announces Teen Poet Semifinalists from Miami Middle and High Schools
Piano Slam 2022 announces this year’s 16 semifinalist winners including nine middle school students and seven high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools who will perform their original poetry paired with local artists including classical piano duo The Alonso Brothers, dance-pop act Afrobeta, and star choreographer Gentry George and his Zest Collective dance company.
Dance-pop act Afrobeta
Choreographer Gentry George
With thousands of submissions, the entries submitted are part of the curriculum in both English and science. This year’s theme from Martin Bejerano’s “Fantasia de Tres Mundos” or Fantasy of Three Worlds is: Music, Humanness and Home (Miami). This year’s curriculum included the support from University of Miami medical school neurologists and public health researchers that looked at the physical traits that make us uniquely human. The 16 semifinalists chosen will perform in the Grand Finals concert and competition on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arsht Center’s Knight Concert hall stage free. Grand finale winners will be awarded $1,000.
Middle School Semifinalists:
Everglades K-8 Center:
Esteban Mosquera (Science)
G.W. Carver:
Briana Augsten (Science)
Horace Mann:
Trinity Jackson (English)
Lawton Chiles:
Telisa Gaviria (English)
Miami Arts Charter:
Sarah Bass (English)
Ponce de Leon:
Oliver Angulo (Science), Juliana Moore (Science) and Rodrigo Marquez (English)
Southwood:
Victor Schein
High School Semifinalists
Coral Gables:
Alejandra Torruellas (English)
Design & Architecture:
Maria Fernanda Serra Almeida Leite (English)
Dr. Michael M. Krop:
Abel Profeta (English)
Miami Arts Charter:
Justin Fayad (Science) and Camila Puche (Science)
Miami Norland:
Amen Hobbs (English) and Nailah Robinson (Science)
In its 15th year, PIANO SLAM is a creative writing project in Miami-Dade Public Schools that presents live concerts, poets, scientists, and hip-hop spoken word to teens in Miami’s middle and high school classrooms culminating in a countywide poetry competition based on the role of music in their lives.
Admission to PIANO SLAM 2022 is free. First-Access Passes, which give guests early access to general admission seating, can be reserved for the performance now. Reserve passes online at arshtcenter.org or by calling the Adrienne Arsht Center box office at 305- 949-6722.