Ricordia: Merion Mercy Continues Shakespeare Competition Tradition

by Delaney Gillespie '27

The English Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, started in 1983, is a competition open to high school students all over the country. During the year, students perform Shakespearean sonnets or monologues in front of their school, hoping to advance to the community (Branch) level in their region, and ultimately the national competition in New York City. For years the competition has been a success, growing in popularity to over 15,000 students each year. That being said, only a handful of students are chosen for the national competition, and get to perform, in hopes of receiving an award. 

Each year, talented students from Merion Mercy Academy perform in the annual Shakespeare competition,which requires them to perform a sonnet by renowned playwright and poet William Shakespeare in front of a large audience, hold a dramatic tone, and allow the listeners to feel as if they are living the sonnet. Preparation for the competition requires passion and confidence, strengths that not every teenager has. Therefore, the students who demonstrate these qualities are not just performers, they are Shakespearean, meaning they have qualities of William Shakespeare themselves. 

This year, three students, Nicolette Whitehawk ‘27, Zoey Brown ‘28, and Erin Rebbechi ‘28, participated in the school competition, in which they each performed their own takes on a sonnet. Although each student had a magnificent performance, only selected students will proceed to the Philadelphia branch competition on February 23, 2026. This year Nicolette Whitehawk and Erin Rebbechi will be representing Merion Mercy in the hopes of making it to the finals in New York City. We congratulate the students who participated in the competition, and thank the teachers and staff who helped coordinate the event.