Lawrence students shine on stage during annual Ovation! show

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Dozens of Lawrence school district students took to the Lied Center stage Sunday for the annual Ovation! talent show.

Numerous students made their Ovation! debuts this year. For some students, the show is one of their first opportunities to step outside their comfort zones and perform for the broader Lawrence community.

The show is a fundraiser for the Lawrence Schools Foundation, which provides resources and awards for students, teachers and staff of the school district.

Kylee Chee, a senior at Lawrence High School, recited an original poem about overcoming self-doubt, finding hope and making the most of everything you do.

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Kylee Chee recites her original poem.

“When I was writing that piece, it’s something that really connects to me. Then when I was thinking about it, I was like, ‘Maybe that connects to other people,’” she said. “… Even if it could change one person’s day, having told it to that one person, if it does anything, I feel like it’s worth it.”

Chee said she’s scared to share her work and put it out there, but the show was an awesome experience, and “it made me feel really good to see how it impacted people.”

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Harrison Leiszler performs Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” on electric violin and loop station.

Harrison Leiszler, freshman at Free State High School, said he felt confident and happy at this year’s Ovation! and wants to keep performing in the show.

“I saw some YouTube videos on it and I saw performers performing on the streets and I thought it was really cool,” he said of the electric violin and loop station he used to play a rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.”

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Members of Dance Hues Studios, representing grades 5-12 in area schools, perform their routine, “My Forces & My White Tee.”
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Elizaveta Smirnov performs.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Sara Song performs a dance routine.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Hadleigh Duris sings and plays an original song, “The Flower Pot.”
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Nora Talbott performs an aerial silk routine. Joining her on the silks was Ellie Earl (not pictured).
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Brian Hanni, the voice of the Jayhawks, emceed the event.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Ha-Tune-Ah Fermata, a barbershop quartet of four Lawrence High School seniors, perform “12th Street Rag.”
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times The Galway Girls perform an Irish step dance routine.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Renee Dvorske, center, a senior at Lawrence High School, served as the student executive director. At left is Dena Johnston of the Lawrence Schools Foundation, and at right is Derek Kwan, executive director of the Lied Center.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Matthew Liu performs Chopin’s “Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major.”
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Kirsten Hermreck, center, of West Middle School, and Emily Boedeker, right, of New York and Woodlawn elementary schools, were presented with the first annual Crystal Apple Awards to recognize their exceptional work and inspirational teaching practices.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Lawrence Ballet Theatre performs to Mendelssohn’s “Allegro Vivace.”
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times

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Nathan Kramer (he/him), a multimedia student journalist for The Lawrence Times since August 2024, is a junior at Free State High School. He is also a video editor for Free State’s student publication, where he works as a videographer, photographer and motion designer. See more of his work for the Times here.

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