By Jessica Godinez
On April 22 the annual French poetry contest, organized by the Alliance Française de la Peninsule de Monterrey, was held at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey. Students from different middle schools and high schools came together to interpret different poems from various famous French poets. Chantal Bailey commenced the event by thanking everyone who attended and expressing her gratitude to all the students who have invested effort in learning the beautiful language that is French. After, Renee Jourdenais, a dean at MIIS, offered motivating words to all the participants and expressed her joy for being at the event. Finally, Pascal Richards, a member of the Alliance Française, briefly went through the program of the evening, and with that the contest began.
The Middle School beginner performance consisted of Angela Doherty and Ella Rasmussen, who together interpreted Le pelican by Robert Desnos, as well as Maggie Johnston and Ava Valdez, who recited a very divergent and artistic version of Jacques prevert’s Refrains enfantins.
The contest proceeded with the High School beginner contest. Devyani Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez was the first one up; she interpreted Chanson de la Seine by Jacques Prevert. Her performance was followed by Monica Guerrero who did a marvellous job reciting Au premier mot limpide by Paul Eluard. Right after was Stephany Rosy Hernandez, who performed Je suis comme je suis by Jacques Prevert. Finally Nadia Villanueva concluded the beginner part of the contest by presenting Theophile Gautier’s Carmen.
Jesus Ceja of Everett Alvarez began the High School intermediate level contest by delivering a powerful performance of Heureux qui comme Ulysse by Joachim Du Bellay, he was followed by Jessica Godinez of Everett Alvarez who recited one of Jacques Prevert’s darkest poems, Familiale. Eduardo Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez gave a strong recitation of Apparition by Stephane Mallarme, and finally Rosa Silva of Everett Alvarez did a wonderful presentation of Harmonie du soir by Charles Baudelaire.
To close up the recitation part of the contest, Caitlyn Bannag left the whole crowd speechless after her grand performance of Demain dès l’aube by Victor Hugo.
The event continued with an intermission where delicious snacks were offered by the Alliance Française. After the intermission, the winners of the original poem contest were announced. The middle school winners were Cailin Templeman with 1st price, Amelie Hansch and Logan Folkel both took home the second price and finally Alex Gianola and James Moreau both took home 3rd place. Honourable mentions went out to Kensington Nelson, who also did an outstanding job.
For high school beginner original poems, Paola Gutierrez of Everett Alvarez took home 1st price and Christopher Tinoco took home 2nd place, while Martin Jimenez and Yoselyn Gonzales both tied for 3rd place. Devyani Gonzales got an honorable mention for her poem, Le meilleur sport du monde. After, the intermediate high school original poems awards were handed out to Rosa Silva of Everett Alvarez, who obtained 1st place, Tenia Esparza Alvarez with 2nd, and Crystal Quintero, who got 3rd place of the contest. A special honorable mention was awarded to Nancy Cisneros of Everett Alvarez, who did a fantastic job on her poem.
To finish the night, the awards for the recitations (interpretations of well-known poems) were handed out. Maggie Johnston and Ava Valdez took home the 1st place of the middle school beginner contest, and Angela Doherty and Ella Rasmussen took home the 2nd prize. Furthermore, the 1st place for high school beginner was awarded to Devyani Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez, 2nd was given to Stephany Rosy Hernandez, and 3rd to Nadia Villanueva. Jessica Godinez of Everett Alvarez took home the 1st place for high school intermediate, Jesus Ceja of Everett Alvarez took 2nd place, and Eduardo Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez got 3rd place. Honorable mention went to Rosa Silva of Everett Alvarez. Without a doubt, Caitlyn Bannag of Everett Alvarez took 1st place for high school advanced, and with that the annual French poetry contest concluded its 7th annual ceremony.
The Middle School beginner performance consisted of Angela Doherty and Ella Rasmussen, who together interpreted Le pelican by Robert Desnos, as well as Maggie Johnston and Ava Valdez, who recited a very divergent and artistic version of Jacques prevert’s Refrains enfantins.
The contest proceeded with the High School beginner contest. Devyani Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez was the first one up; she interpreted Chanson de la Seine by Jacques Prevert. Her performance was followed by Monica Guerrero who did a marvellous job reciting Au premier mot limpide by Paul Eluard. Right after was Stephany Rosy Hernandez, who performed Je suis comme je suis by Jacques Prevert. Finally Nadia Villanueva concluded the beginner part of the contest by presenting Theophile Gautier’s Carmen.
Jesus Ceja of Everett Alvarez began the High School intermediate level contest by delivering a powerful performance of Heureux qui comme Ulysse by Joachim Du Bellay, he was followed by Jessica Godinez of Everett Alvarez who recited one of Jacques Prevert’s darkest poems, Familiale. Eduardo Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez gave a strong recitation of Apparition by Stephane Mallarme, and finally Rosa Silva of Everett Alvarez did a wonderful presentation of Harmonie du soir by Charles Baudelaire.
To close up the recitation part of the contest, Caitlyn Bannag left the whole crowd speechless after her grand performance of Demain dès l’aube by Victor Hugo.
The event continued with an intermission where delicious snacks were offered by the Alliance Française. After the intermission, the winners of the original poem contest were announced. The middle school winners were Cailin Templeman with 1st price, Amelie Hansch and Logan Folkel both took home the second price and finally Alex Gianola and James Moreau both took home 3rd place. Honourable mentions went out to Kensington Nelson, who also did an outstanding job.
For high school beginner original poems, Paola Gutierrez of Everett Alvarez took home 1st price and Christopher Tinoco took home 2nd place, while Martin Jimenez and Yoselyn Gonzales both tied for 3rd place. Devyani Gonzales got an honorable mention for her poem, Le meilleur sport du monde. After, the intermediate high school original poems awards were handed out to Rosa Silva of Everett Alvarez, who obtained 1st place, Tenia Esparza Alvarez with 2nd, and Crystal Quintero, who got 3rd place of the contest. A special honorable mention was awarded to Nancy Cisneros of Everett Alvarez, who did a fantastic job on her poem.
To finish the night, the awards for the recitations (interpretations of well-known poems) were handed out. Maggie Johnston and Ava Valdez took home the 1st place of the middle school beginner contest, and Angela Doherty and Ella Rasmussen took home the 2nd prize. Furthermore, the 1st place for high school beginner was awarded to Devyani Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez, 2nd was given to Stephany Rosy Hernandez, and 3rd to Nadia Villanueva. Jessica Godinez of Everett Alvarez took home the 1st place for high school intermediate, Jesus Ceja of Everett Alvarez took 2nd place, and Eduardo Gonzalez of Everett Alvarez got 3rd place. Honorable mention went to Rosa Silva of Everett Alvarez. Without a doubt, Caitlyn Bannag of Everett Alvarez took 1st place for high school advanced, and with that the annual French poetry contest concluded its 7th annual ceremony.