Houstonfest - Declamation Rules

News and Updates

Contest promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest promo video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

Contest promo video #3 (hilarious 2024 State-winning submission from our own Klein Oak High School!)

Daily log of changes to State-qualifier list

Important Dates

on a rolling basis but no later than Wed., Apr. 30, 2025 for payment during the 2024-2025 school year: submit Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.

Mon. Jan. 13, 2025, 4:00 p.m.: Application for transportation grants from the Houston Saengerbund opens (IF THEY ARE OFFERED AT ALL; if so, teachers will be sent a link to a Google Form).

Tue., Jan. 21, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/27).

Mon., Jan. 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.

Sat., Feb. 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get link to Google Form from your teacher).

Tue., Feb. 4, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.

Wed., Feb. 5, 2025, 10:00 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 8, 2025: Houstonfest, Kingwood High School, Houston.

Fri., Feb. 14, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for "early bird" price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/19).

Wed., Feb. 19, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for regular price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark your State payment.

Sat., Feb. 22, 2025, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get the link to a Google Form from your teacher). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship applications due (to submit the application, get the link to a Google Form from your teacher).

Mon., Feb. 24, 2025, 8:00 p.m.: Entries in State promotional video contest due to State director.

Tue., Feb. 25, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.

Sat., Mar. 1, 2025: Texas State German Contest, Texas State University, San Marcos.

Sat., Mar. 8, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Sun., Mar. 16, 2025: Gail Cope State Scholarship applications due.

Rules: Declamation Events

General rules for all declamation events:

A student may not perform the same poem or prose selection in both the Memory and Reading competitions the same year.
A student may not perform the same poem or prose selection that he/she has performed in any previous year.
Failure to provide at least 2 copies of the piece (in the Memory events) or the electronic copy of the piece (in the Reading events) to the judges will result in a 10-point deduction from the cumulative score.

Poetry Memory:

Entry Limit: 3 contestants per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and Advantaged).

Length and Time Limits:

Level 1: 16-24 lines OR 1-2 minutes

Level 2: 20-32 lines OR 1.5-2.5 minutes

Levels 3, 4, and Advantaged: 24-46 lines OR 2-3 minutes

The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German. It may not be a translation from a non-German speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon. Poems may be edited to fit time or line limits. Poetry Memory is dramatic interpretation, but without costumes and props. The contestant may use one chair and may move during the presentation. At least 2 copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest. Poetry Memory selections may not be used as Poetry Reading selections or vice versa by the same person.

Download critique sheet.

Poetry Reading:

Entry Limit: 3 contestants per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4)

Length and Time Limits:

Level 1: 16-24 lines OR 1-2 minutes

Level 2: 20-32 lines OR 1.5-2.5 minutes

Levels 3 and 4: 24-46 lines OR 2-3 minutes

This is a "virtual event." You must submit your entry no later than 1 week before the contest. Specific instructions for uploading the entry will be published on the contest website and/or distributed to teachers each year.

The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German. It may not be a translation from a non-German-speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon. Poems may be edited to fit the time or line limits. Poetry Reading is judged on the basis of reading and not on any interpretation by the contestant, other than the use of voice changes, eye contact, facial expressions, and some use of hands. No props or costumes may be used. The contestant may not walk around. Poetry Reading selections may not be used as Poetry Memory selections or vice versa by the same person.

Record yourself reading the selection (or have someone else record you). Don't forget to say the title and author. You may do as many "takes" as you want until you're satisfied with the result, but the submitted recording must be a single continuous unedited take, not a spliced-together compilation of the best parts of multiple takes.
Upload the video of your reading to YouTube or Vimeo.
Create a single Word document or Google Doc with the full text of the selection, including the title and author. To get the text of your reading selection into the document, you can cut and paste it if you have access to an electronic version of the piece or simply take a (clear!) picture or pictures of the text if you are working from a hard copy and paste the picture(s) into the document.
Include a title page with your name, your school, the name and level of the event, e.g., "Poetry Reading 2," and a hyperlink to your YouTube/Vimeo recording. If you are concerned about privacy and want to password-protect your video, include the password with the hyperlink in the document.
Convert this document to a PDF file and upload it according to the instructions provided. Do NOT upload the video itself; the judges will access your video via the link that you include in the PDF.

Download critique sheet.

Prose Memory:

Entry Limit: 3 contestants per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and Advantaged).

Length and Time Limits:

Level 1: 16-24 lines OR 1-2 minutes

Level 2: 20-32 lines OR 1.5-2.5 minutes

Levels 3, 4, and Advantaged: 24-46 lines OR 2-3 minutes

The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German. It may not be a translation from a non-German speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon. Selections may be edited to fit time or line limits. Prose Memory is dramatic interpretation, but without costumes and props. The contestant may use one chair and may move during the presentation. At least 2 copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest. Prose Memory selections may not be used as Prose Reading selections or vice versa by the same person.

Download critique sheet.

Prose Reading:

Entry Limit: 3 contestants per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4)

Length and Time Limits:

Level 1: 16-24 lines OR 1-2 minutes

Level 2: 20-32 lines OR 1.5-2.5 minutes

Levels 3 and 4: 24-46 lines OR 2-3 minutes

The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German. It may not be a translation from a non-German-speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon. Selections may be edited to fit the time or line limits. Prose Reading is judged on the basis of reading and not on any interpretation by the contestant, other than the use of voice changes, eye contact, facial expressions, and some use of hands. No props or costumes may be used. The contestant may not walk around. Prose Reading selections may not be used as Prose Memory selections or vice versa by the same person.

Record yourself reading the selection (or have someone else record you). Don't forget to say the title and author. You may do as many "takes" as you want until you're satisfied with the result, but the submitted recording must be a single continuous unedited take, not a spliced-together compilation of the best parts of multiple takes.
Upload the video of your reading to YouTube or Vimeo.
Create a single Word document or Google Doc with the full text of the selection, including the title and author. To get the text of your reading selection into the document, you can cut and paste it if you have access to an electronic version of the piece or simply take a (clear!) picture or pictures of the text if you are working from a hard copy and paste the picture(s) into the document.
Include a title page with your name, your school, the name and level of the event, e.g., "Prose Reading 2," and a hyperlink to your YouTube/Vimeo recording. If you are concerned about privacy and want to password-protect your video, include the password with the hyperlink in the document.
Convert this document to a PDF file and upload it according to the instructions provided. Do NOT upload the video itself; the judges will access your video via the link that you include in the PDF.