The Next Great Hearts Bard Will Soon Be Named

The Great Hearts Bard, the annual poetry recitation competition among our third, fourth, and fifth grade scholars will take place in the Marley Performing Arts Center at Maryvale Prep on Friday, April 10th, 2026, at 6:30 PM (MST). Those who are unable to attend in person can cheer on their favorite orator while watching the livestream on Facebook or YouTube.

A cornerstone of a Great Hearts elementary school education is the exposure to the appreciation and recitation of classical poetry. Poetry will be taking the spotlight again at this year’s event, where finalists from each of our Arizona Archway academies compete for the title of the 2026 Bard. These young scholars have already claimed victory during the first round at their academies and are anticipating competing against one other with their own poetry recitation they have perfected over the last several months.

Finalists will recite from memory a poem or excerpt and will be scored by a panel of judges. Each year, the judges are provided a standardized evaluation rubric to help them identify the students who present commanding and engaging performances which do not overshadow the content of the poem. It’s a tricky balance for the judges to strike and the close final scores have reflected that challenge. Scores are given for physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance. Accuracy is also a component.

By the end of the night, one of these finalists will be announced as the 2026 Bard winner, taking over from the reigning champion Lia McArthur, the impressive 2025 Bard winner from Archway Chandler. Join us as we celebrate Truth, Goodness, and Beauty through poetry.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contactjmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.