Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School students showcased their talents at MADFest 2022 on April 7-8.
MADFest is Rabun Gap’s celebration of student talent in the arts and has become a much-anticipated campus tradition. This year, the event returned in-person to the Rearden Stage for the first time since 2019, with categories including dance, vocal music, instrumental music, visual arts, film, Cirque, and drama.
More than 100 students participated in auditions on Thursday, April 7 for a panel of professional judges. The panel included three alumni – Jessie Kuehne ’17 (drama), David Perrin ’15 (Cirque), and Josh Holtzclaw ’05 (film). Other judges were Linda DeHart (dance), Mark Thomas (instrumental music), Erica Nicole (vocal music), and Zach Rogers (visual arts).
The top entries from each category were featured in the MADFest Showcase on April 8. Visual artwork was on display in the Bivins Jones Art Gallery in the Arts & Technology Building.
The MADFest Award winners were:
Instrumental
First Place: Ahn Pham’22 of Vietnam
Second Place: Greg Seok ‘27 of Korea
Dance Solo
First Place: Dustin Anderson ’22 of Hiawassee, GA
Second Place: Sarah Katherine Brenner ’22 of Franklin, NC
Dance Ensemble
First Place: Dustin Anderson ’22 of Hiawassee, GA and Morgan Mescher ’23 of Otto, NC
Second Place: Sarah Katherine ’22, Elizabeth ’24, and Abigail Brenner ’26, all of Franklin, NC
Honorable Mention: Kaykay Justilien ’23 of The Bahamas & Blaire Lauder-Williams ’23 of Bronx, NY
Film
First Place: Scott Liu ’22 of China
Second Place: Sophia Moore ’24 of Highlands, NC
Cirque
First Place: Katherine Tench ’22 of Clarkesville, GA
Second Place: Elizabeth Brenner ’24 of Franklin, NC
Vocal Solo
First Place: Lauren Eubanks ’24 of Georgetown, GA
Second Place: Lucy Barry ’22 of Rabun Gap, GA
Honorable Mention: Sophia Moore of Highlands, NC
Vocal Ensemble
First Place: Ella Loveland ’23 of Rabun Gap, GA & Laura Schmeichel ’22 of Palmetto, FL
Second Place: Abby Hartridge ’26 of Clayton, GA & Makenna Bilbrey ’26 of Otto, NC
Drama Solo
First Place: Laura Schmeichel ’22 of Palmetto, FL
Second Place: Kite Stribling ’25 of Sautee Nacoochee, GA
Honorable Mention: Paloma Robles ’22 of Franklin, NC
Drama Ensemble
First Place: Laura Schmeichel ’22 of of Palmetto, FL & Cheney Moriarty ’23 of Hong Kong
Second Place: Sam Watts ’22 of Thomasville, GA & Jeb Bring ’23 of Highlands, NC
Drawing
First Place: Sadie Smearman ’24 of Atlanta, GA
Second Place: Gracie Scott ’24 of Clayton, GA
Third Place: Imani Olateju ’23 of Woodstock, GA
Honorable Mention: Isabella Wells ’24 of Murphy, NC
Honorable Mention: Genevieve Maddox ’22 of Franklin, NC
Honorable Mention: Lizi Green ’23 of Midland, TX
2-D DESIGN/Mixed Media
First Place: Scott Liu ’22 of China
Second Place: Ella Loveland ’23 of Rabun Gap, GA
Third Place: Cedric Anton ’22 of Germany
Honorable Mention: Abby Soto ’23 of Lakemont, GA
Honorable Mention: Piers McGowin ’23 of Clarkesville, GA
Honorable Mention: Gracie Scott ’24 of Clayton, GA
3-D DESIGN
First Place: Vivi Geren ’23 of Dillard, GA & Gracie Scott ’24 of Clayton, GA
Second Place: Scott Liu ’22 of China
Third Place: Zoey Townsend ’23 of Cullowhee, NC
Honorable Mention: Ella Loveland ’23 of Rabun Gap, GA
Honorable Mention: Jill Hill ‘22 of Ocala, FL
Honorable Mention: Zoey Townsend ’23 of Cullowhee, NC
PHOTOGRAPHY/Graphic Design
First Place: Clara Pedall ’25 of Germany
Second Place: Sydney Graham ’22 of Rabun Gap, GA
Third Place: William Cai ’23 of China
Honorable Mention: Clara Pedall ’25 of Germany
Honorable Mention: Theo Ochieng ’24 of Denmark
Honorable Mention: Peter Pedall ’25 of Germany
