POWER OF SPORT PERFORMING ARTS COMPETITION
presented by Union Home Mortgage
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair."- Nelson Mandela
Power of Sport Performing Arts Competition presented by Union Home Mortgage encouraged participants to create an original poem or song that describes how the power of sport has affected you, your community or your outlook on the world.
The finalists performed at the Cleveland Power of Sport Summit on Saturday, February 19, 2022. You can watch the livestream performances by clicking the button below.
Prize money was awarded to three (3) winners.
Congratulation To Our Adult Poetry, Adult Music and Youth Poetry Participants and Winners!
Adult Poetry:
"Big" Steve Furlow-Munn (winner)
Von James
CC Speaks
Adult Music:
Michael Rotman (winner)
Moises Borges
Raven Rae
Youth Poetry:
Leila Metres (winner)
COMPETITION OVERVIEW
Submission Categories
- Poetry or Song – option to include instrumental track or play an instrument
Prizes
- Youth: $750 prize (2 winners)
- Adult: $1,500 prize (2 winners)
Competition Format: Round 1
- First round is judged by virtual submission; due by Friday, Feb. 4 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
- Submission must include a visual recitation or performance by the original author.
- Judges will then select top three (3) finalists in each category (poetry and song) and each age group (youth and adult) to move on to Round 2 (12 total finalists).
Competition Format: Round 2
- Final, live performance at Cleveland Power of Sport Summit on Saturday, February 19 at 4pm
- All finalists and guests must register for the Cleveland Power of Sport Summit on Saturday to attend (register here)
- Judges will select one (1) winner per category, per age group (4 total winners)
- Prize money awarded
- Performances live streamed and recorded
- All performers and guests must show proof of vaccination or recent negative test to enter the building. Please review the Covid guidelines on our Safety & Accessibility page prior to attending.
Judges: Poetry
- Amy Rosenbluth: Executive Director of Lake Erie Ink
- Ephriam Nehemiah: Award-Winning Poet and Author
- Raja Freeman: Performance Poet and Teaching Artist at Twelve Literary Arts
Judges: Music
- Jul Big Green: Musician, Singer, and Songwriter
- Nwaka Onwusa: Vice President and Chief Curator of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
- Donnie Lynee: Singer and Songwriter
Judging Criteria
- Relevance to the theme: 50%
Each submission must creatively tie back to the theme power of sport. Artists and poets must reflect on how the power of sport has affected them, their community or their outlook of the world.
- Musical/poetic flow and presentation: 25%
Each submission will be judged on overall presentation. All artists and poets will have the chance to perform on a main stage at Cleveland Power of Sport Summit for a chance to win a cash prize, in addition to networking with executives and influencers in their respective industries.
- Style and Delivery: 25%
Each submission will be judged on style and delivery. Each artist and poet is encouraged to showcase their unique style through their song or poem. Delivery must be cohesive to the subject matter for our judges to be able to critique properly.
Eligibility
- Age requirements: youth 14 to 18 years old; adult 19+
- One (1) entry per person
- Max. of 3 minutes and 30 seconds
- Must live within Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina, Summit, Stark, Portage, Geauga, Lake or Ashtabula counties
- Entries must draw on the theme power of sport
- Entries should consist of a contestant’s own work and should not infringe on any copyrights or other rights of third parties
- Round 1 submissions of video (i.e. iPhone/Android, mp4, YouTube link, Vimeo link or Google Drive link), or audio (i.e. mp3, Soundcloud link, YouTube link, Google Drive link) are acceptable
- A written transcript of performance must be submitted with the link
- Submissions must be clean, not containing any profane, derogatory or misogynistic lyrics or text
- Submission may be in any language; if not English, a written translation must be provided
- Author retains rights to their submission but grants Greater Cleveland Sports Commission ability to record/broadcast for the purposes of the contest
- Cash prizes are awarded
Questions?
Power of Sport Performing Arts Competition presented by Union Home Mortgage is a Greater Cleveland Sports Commission program under the umbrella of Velocity.
