This Sunday, 24 Overture Awards finalists in six arts categories will hear some encouraging words from composer and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of music grad Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Suessical), then compete before judges at the Aronoff's Jarson-Kaplan Theater. The event is sold out.

        This fifth annual regional high school arts competition began with 364 students from 84 schools in 13 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. By the end of Sunday's program, six winners in creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, visual art and vocal music will be going home with $5,000 scholarships.

Lisa Weinert is a sophomore from Logan Homeschool (Sandy Underwood photo) | ZOOM |

        The three dance finalists are Jason McCollum, a senior at School for Creative and Performing Arts (ballet); Sarah McGing, a Kings High School senior (Irish dance); and Lela Weinert, a sophomore from Logan Homeschool (ballet).

        Question: How did you start dancing?

        Jason: I originally came to SCPA in seventh grade as a drama and art student, but after auditions, I was encouraged to join the dance program.

        Lela: I started when I was 7. My family lived in a Chicago suburb and I just remember seeing dance on videos and TV and wanting to try it.

        Sarah: My aunt teaches dance and owns a studio. I studied ballet, too, till fifth grade, but I decided I liked Irish dancing and concentrated on that.

        Q: How much time do you spend practicing?

        Jason: About 2 1/2 hours a day, five days a week. School work and dancing, that's my life.

        Lela: About three hours a day, five or six days a week. On Saturdays, I teach a class in the morning, then take class, then rehearse. Having a social life is hard, I have to cut out a lot, but it's worth it.

        I love music, it inspires me, I think dance helps build character.

        Sarah: I practice every day, about 1 1/2 or two hours. I got more motivated when I started winning competitions, when I was 13-ish.

        Q: Sarah, you're an international competitor in Irish dance, and in fact you picked up a third place, fifth place and seventh overall in the All-Ireland Championships earlier this month, but Irish dance might not be as well known to people as ballet.

        Sarah: I'm a little nervous about that.

        Q: What's on the schedule after the Overtures?

Lela: I've been a member of the Next Generation Dance Company for two years and I'll be performing Katrina in The Bluebird this spring.

        Sarah: I've qualified for the world championships and I'll be competing in April. In July, I'll go to Toronto for the North American Irish Dancing Championships. (Sarah currently ranks third.)

        Q: What's your plan for college and beyond?

Jason: I plan to major in law and minor in dance. I'd like to dance with a professional company.

        Lela: I want to go to a college with a good dance program, North Carolina School of the Arts or University of Utah, and I want to dance in a professional ballet company.

        Sarah: I haven't decided on a major. I do want to continue dancing.

Most of winners were truly worthy
They cannot tell a lie
Reality check: Rodger popular, but still long shot
Opera never sleeps
Prep students compete for Overture Awards
Host fired for racist remark
The Early Word
Get to it