Two named finalists, three earn honorable mention in Shakespeare Competition

The following students were recognized for their performances in the Upper Division Monologues (grades 8-12):

Finalists

• Zahra Hossain & Hansika Yanamadala, grade 12 – Twelfth Night

Honorable Mention

• Ivan Yanov, grade 8 – Macbeth
• Haylie King, grade 9 – Much Ado About Nothing
• Kaaveri Patil, grade 9 – Richard III

More than 1,000 students from over 80 schools participated in the preliminary rounds, making the recognition a significant achievement for the Upper St. Clair performers.

Upper St. Clair students prepared for the competition with support from gifted education teachers Doug Kirchner at Upper St. Clair High School and Thomas Yochum at Fort Couch Middle School.

“Our students put in considerable time and effort during months of preparation and were able to not only meticulously memorize extended monologues, but truly understand their characters’ mindset and motivations,” Mr. Yochum said. “The judges saw what we had noticed in classroom practices – our students knew the plays, and it helped them bring their roles to life.”

The contest’s Upper Division includes students in grades 8–12, while the Lower Division features students in grades 4–7. Participants were evaluated by teams of judges on several criteria, including: understanding of the text, emotional connectedness, character development, physical and vocal performance, and pacing and the interaction amongst the actors in a scene.

The annual competition celebrates student achievement in classical theater and provides young performers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Shakespeare’s works while developing confidence and performance skills.

View the 2026 Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest Results