AWARDS AT SPA
SPA has a long tradition of bringing home trophies from the Utah Shakespeare Festival Competition, the Utah Musical Theatre Awards, Region and State Solo and Ensemble, and Region and State Drama competitions and more. Below is a highlighted list of some of the many awards and recognition received by Students at SPA, and it is by no means comprehensive.
2022-2023 Awards
Best of Salt Lake City Award
2022 Best High School
Utah Shakespeare Competition
Sweepstakes Second Place - Cambridge Division
1st place - Ensemble
1st place - Monologue - Emerson Mace
2nd Place - Dance Ensemble
Region Drama Competition
3rd place Overall
All team members qualified for State competition
1st Place - Classical Scenes - Elizabeth Simmons & Joey Plaster-Beattie
2nd Place - Contemporary Scenes - Max Estevez and Carolee Lewis
3rd Place - Contemporary Scenes - McKenna Tuckett and Oskar Ballard took 2nd and 3rd place in Contemporary Scenes
1st Place - Pantomime - Gigi Garay
3rd Place - Pantomime - Izzy Hoyt
Best Actress Award - 1 Act play competition - Kathryn O’Mara
Region Solo & Ensemble Competition
“Prayer” - Vocal Ensemble - Qualified for State
“Lakme” - Illyra Joseph & Maddie Best - Qualified for State
“Truth” - Kathryn O’Mara, Kassie Aupperle, & Tatiyona Lane - Qualified for State
Soloists: McKinney Bowden, Madeline Best, Kathryn O’Mara, Illyra Joseph, & Rubi Flores - Qualified for State
Utah Film Festival
“Layers - A Short Narrative” - Faith Dixon, Media Conservatory student
Sterling Scholars
Mykkah Berg - Nominated for Dance
Kathryn O’Mara - Nominated for Theatre
FCCLA Star Events
1st Place for Region & State in Fashion Construction - Addison Fell-Cheny
Dance America
Platinum 1st Place - Self-Choreographed Solo - Caelin Grandpre
Overall High Point for Advanced Open Solos - Caelin Grandpre
Utah High School Musical Award Nominations
Best Supporting Actor - Emmerson Mace
Best Supporting Actress - Kathryn O'Mara
Best Ensemble - Landon Smith and Jess Hirsh
Best Choreography - Jessie McCullough
Best Scenic Design - Cara Pomeroy
Best Costume Design - Charrisse Fuhriman
Best Student Lighting Design - Abbey Hilton
2021-2022 Awards
Utah Shakespeare Competition
1st Place Dance Ensemble
3rd place, Dance Duo/Trio
Dance Scholarship awarded to Emily Larson
Region Choir Festival
Concordia - Superior
Kate Potter - Superior
Chloe Mizantzidi - Superior
Harriet Parnell - Superior
Andon Mathews - Superior
McKinney Bowden - Superior
State Vocal Solo & Ensemble Festival
Chloe Mizantzidi - Superior (I) - Vocal Solo
Kate Potter - Superior (I) - Vocal Solo
Harriet Parnell - Superior (I) - Vocal Solo
Grace Whitehead - Superior (I) - Piano Solo
McKinney Bowden - High Excellent (II+) - Vocal Solo
Concordia - High Excellent (II+) - Vocal Ensemble
Region FCCLA Competition
Victoria Parry - Gold
Addi Fell-Cheney - Silver
State FCCLA Competition
Addi Fell-Cheney - Gold, 2nd in Level Two Fashion Cons
Victoria Parry - Silver
Utah Dance Education Organization State Competition
Straight Superior ratings for "Manipulation" choreographed by Maggie Merchant and performed by Dance Conservatory
Straight Superior ratings for "Overthinking" choreographed by Kylah Walker and performed by Dance Conservatory
Outstanding Student Choreographer: Maggie Merchant
Outstanding Student Choreographer: Kylah Walker
Outstanding Performer: Maya Propsero
Sterling Scholar for Dance: Lanee Nawrocki - she went all the way to the state level of competition!!
Caelin Grandpre - received a scholarship to Wasatch Contemporary’s summer program
2022 Ruth Lovell Murray Book Award - Jessie McCullough (Faculty)
2020-2021 Awards
Utah Shakespeare Competition
2nd Place Dance Ensemble
Utah Dance Education Organization State Competition
Superior and Excellent ratings on all pieces
Inspiring Teacher Award at the Jimmy's
Awarded to Katelin Ruzzamenti Knight
2019-2020 Awards
Utah Shakespeare Competition
1st Place Sweepstakes
2nd Place Dance Ensemble
3rd Place Dance Duo/Trio
Larry Lot Scholarship - awarded to a student actor
Utah Dance Education Organization State Competition
Straight Superior for both pieces of choreography presented
3 students were awarded the following:
Outstanding Student Choreography
Scholarship to SALT Dance intensive, Ririe Woodbury Young Dancer Workshop, and a scholarship to Casper College.
2018-2019 Awards
Utah Shakespeare Competition
1st Place Sweepstakes
Tech Awards: Make Up, Costumes, Overall 3rd Place
3rd Place tie Dance Ensemble
2nd Place Madrigals, Small Group
1st Place Monologue- Casey Keefe
2nd Place duo/trio- Sumner Schoell, Mekyja Jenkins, and Sammie Cook
Showcased Performance- Heather Tally
Scholarships:
The Larry Lott Scholarship: Milo Marsden
Theatre Scholarship- Casey Keefe
2017-2018 Awards
Utah Shakespeare Competition
1st Place Sweepstakes
1st Place Ensemble (Othello)
1st Place Monologues (Mikayla Gonzles-Coriolanus/Volumina)
2nd Place Duo/Trio (Anna Trick, Anna Nadjafinia, Caylee White, Coriolanus)
1st Place Dance Ensemble
3rd Place Dance Duo/Trio
Scholarships:
SUU Scholarship: Mikala Gonzales
The Larry Lott Scholarship: Kaybri Wolff
Dance Scholarship: Lauren Wightman
UHSAA Regional Theatre Competition
Department of Theatre - Regional Champions
Straight Superiors in One Act Play
One Act Play: Second Place
Best Supporting Actress: Kaybri Wolfe
Best Character Actress: Anna Nadjafinia
1st Place Dramatic Monologue: Kaybri Wolfe
2nd Place Comical Monologues: Madelyn Salazar
1st Place Classical Scenes: Lucas Boniface/Clay Webb
2nd Place Classical Scenes (Tie): Mikayla Gonzales/Makayla Blair and Anna Nadjafina
1st Place Contemporary Scenes: Meg Johnson/Natalie Dilts
2nd Place Contemporary Scenes: Abby Davis/Caden Tudor
3rd Place Musical Theatre: Heather Tally/Olivia Warner
Utah Dance Education Organization State Festival
SLSPA Dance Conservatory -superior rating
UHSAA State Theatre Competition
Department of Theatre- 5A USHAA STATE CHAMPIONS in Theatre.
Superior Ratings
HUMEROUS MONOLOGUES
Madelyn Salazar: Dead Special Crabs
Caylee White: All the Kings Women
Corrinne Brown: Walter Cronkite is Dead
DRAMATIC MONOLOGUES
Kaybri Wolff: for colored girls…
Sumner Schoell: Wild Animals You Should Know
Emily Gibson: Motherhood Out Loud
CLASSICAL SCENES
Clay Webb/Lucas Boniface: The Importance of Being Earnest
Anna Trick. David van Frankenhuijesuin: Lady Audley’s Secret
Mikayla Gonzales/Makayla Blair: Hedda Gabler
CONTEMPORARY SCENES
Anna Nadanafinia/Skigh Copier: The Misanthrope
Meg Johnson/Natali Dilts: All My Sons
Molly Levine/Rebekah Price: Keely and Du
Abby Davis/Caden Tudor: Love/Sick
PANTOMIMES
Genevieve Glissmeyer & Amara Linnebach: Hunter of Words
MUSICAL THEATRE
Payton (Max) Carter: Try Me
Heather Tally & Olivia Warner: Freedom
Jordan Petersen & Casey Keefe: Somethings are Meant to Be
CLASSICAL SCENES: First Place
Clay Webb/Lucas Boniface: The Importance of Being Earnest
One Act Play: Anton is Show Business
Straight Superiors
Best Design
2016-2017 Awards
State Theatre Competition
19 I.E. Entries received Straight Superior Medals
Haely Johnson- Boby Talk
Anna Nanafinia-The Cockfighter
Savanna Walker- Eccentricities
Skigh Copier- Last First Kiss
Clay Webb- Baby/Bathwater
Jennie Turner- In the Daylight
Trey McEuen- A Room for Living
Lucas Boniface- Unplugged In
Mikala Gonzales/Anna Trick- Phaedra
Matt Raines /Eve Aspland- A School for Scandal
Kayla McAlster/ Olivia Fryer- The Learned Ladies
Clara Poulsen/Molly Levine/Miranda Morris- Baby/Bathwater
Gracie Kilminister Bird/Abby Davis- Mombo
Caylee White/Raif McCormick- Last Night in Ballyhoo
Caden Tutor/Kay Brown- Bright Ideas
Sumner Schoell/Casey Keefe - Freedom
Isaac Carrillo/ Makayla Blair- (Urinetown)
Kaybri Wolff - (The Color Purple)
Brea MacDonald- (Kinky Boots)
Ethan Kelso - (Ragtime)
1 st Place Musical Theatre- (Kaybri Wolfe-The Color Purple)
2nd Place Classical Scenes- (Mikayla Gonzales & Anna Trick-Phadera)
2nd Place Contemporary Scenes- (Caden Tutor & Kay Brown-Bright Ideas)
3rd Place Comical Monologues-(Trey McEuen-Room for Living)
3rd Place One Act Play- (Horse Girls)
Best Supporting Actress- (Eve Asplund)
Regional Theatre Competition
Best Ensemble of a One Act Play
2nd Place for One Act Play (Advancing to State)
Kaybri Wolfe received the Judge Recognition Award for Acting Horse Girls
22 IE Teams received Superior Rating
14 IE Teams received Superior Performance Medals
2nd Place for Overall Sweepstakes
Omega PSI PHI Fraternity Talent Competition
1st Place: Kaybri Wolff- Musical Theatre
3rd Place: Coltin Snyder- Dance
4th Place: Brei Snyder- Dance
Shakespeare Competition
1st place dance ensemble- Dance Conservatory
3rd place dance duo-trio- Emma Hansen and Céline David
1st place theatre duo-trio- Trey McEwen, Mikayla Blaire, and Sumner Shoelle
1st place monologue- Casey Josephson
1st place Sweepstakes award.
2015-2016 Awards
Charter School Best in State (3rd Year in a Row)
Charter School BOSS Award (Overall winner of education category Best in State)
Shakespeare Competition Results:
2nd place duo/trio dance for dance
3rd place dance ensemble
1st place monologue Abigail Mower
1st place duo/trio Wiley Adams, Hannah Romney and Micki Martinez ($1,000 scholarship each)
3rd place duo/trio Aidan Croft, Lauren Prince, and Christian Earl
2nd place ensemble
1st Place sweepstakes award
Equality Utah Allies award
Adobe Youth Voices Creative Educator Award (by showing that we create "with purpose") Awarded Adobe cloud for all the computers in the lab for Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts' CTE department
Heritage Music Festival 2016 California (Winners invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC)
1st Place Madrigals with a gold ranking
1st Place Bella Voce with a gold ranking
VOZ placed SECOND with a silver ranking
The State Solo Ensemble awards:
Guitar Ensemble 1
Otto Holbrook (guitar solo) 1
Travis Boyce (guitar solo) III+
Guitar Trio II
Syrenna Lisonbee (piano) 1-
Ben Keller (piano) 1-
Brea McDonald 1-
Anais Samuels II+
Jennie Turner and Olivia Fryer 1
Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards 2016
14 nominations
3 wins: Best Direction- Derek Clifford, Jessie Metcalf, and Nate Wambolt
Best Choreography- Jessie Metcalf
Best Actress- Hannah Romney
2014-2015 Awards
State Theater Competition, 2015
65 Students participated in 5 different events
1st place overall Sweepstakes (State Champions)
64 Superior ratings (based on Superior-Excellent-Good-Fair)
Best Ensemble for One Act Play Kitchen Women
Best Set Design for one Act Play Kitchen Women
Regional Theater Competition
68 students participated in 5 different events
65 students advanced to State
65 student received Superior ratings
One Act Play 1st place, Best Ensemble
Shakespeare Competition 2014
1st Place Sweepstakes
2nd Place Theatre Ensemble
2nd Place Theatre Duo/Trio
2nd Place Mono-Acts
1st Place Dance Ensemble
Third Place Dance Duo/Trio
1st Place Tech Olympics
1st Place Costumes
1st Place Portfolio
2nd Place The Silver Spotlight
Utah Dance Festival
BEST of UTAH STUDENT for Mixed
2013-2014 Awards
Best in State (Second year in a row!)
Utah Shakespeare Festival Competition Awards Cambridge Division
1st Place Sweepstakes
1st Place Monologues
2nd Place Monologues
1st Place Dance Ensemble
1st Place Dance Duo/Trio
3rd Place Technical Theatre Olympics Overall Sweepstakes
1st Place in Lighting
1st Place in Costuming
2012-2013 Awards
Best in State - Charter School
2013 Graduating Class of just 29 students received over 1 million dollars in scholarship offers collectively.
2013 Graduation Class had a 100% graduation rate.
Region Drama Competition
3rd Place Sweepstakes
2nd Place Pantomime
2nd Place Contemporary Scene
3rd Place Classical Scene
Best Actor in a One-Act Play
Best Character Actor in a One-Act Play
Best Character Actress in a One-Act Play
1st Place Comic Monologue
2nd PlaceComic Monologue
1st Place One Act Play
Best Ensemble One Act Play
Region Music Festival
3 Guitarists took Superiors
1 Pianist took Superior
8 Singers took Superiors
Guitar Ensemble took Superior
SLSPA's Dance Piece "Trapped Yearning Constant Searching" was selected to perform at NYC Dance Arts Festival.
State Drama Competition (SPA competes at the 4A level of UHSAA high school competition despite being a 1A size)
7th Place in 4A Overall
4th Place Pantomime
4th PlaceOne Act Play
8 Superior Medals
State Music Competition
3 Students ranked I
7 Students ranked I-
1 Student ranked II+
2 Students ranked II