Joanna Solfrian, award-winning poet and longtime judge of the School’s annual Poetry Festival, returned to the Storm King campus recently for a four-day visit in collaboration with the English Department. Having served as a festival judge for several years, Ms. Solfrian has been working with faculty to develop more meaningful and sustained opportunities for student engagement with poetry. Her recent visit was a step toward bringing that shared vision to life.
During her time on campus, Ms. Solfrian visited every English class, leading lively discussions on poetry and the writing process. Each session combined readings of selected poems with guided writing exercises, giving students the chance to analyze others’ work while exploring their own creative voices. Her thoughtful and inclusive approach encouraged students to think critically about language, structure, and self-expression and engage in creating their own poems.
Joanna Solfrian
“One of the things I love most is seeing students discover that they have something worth saying—and that poetry can be the way to say it,” Ms. Solfrian remarked. “These students brought a level of openness and curiosity that made our time together both productive and inspiring.”
Beyond the classroom, Ms. Solfrian also held one-on-one conferences with students seeking personalized feedback. These sessions offered them a unique opportunity to reflect on their work in dialogue with a practicing literary professional.
“Poetry is a conversation across time and space,” Ms. Solfrian continued. “When students begin to understand that their voices can enter that conversation, it changes how they see themselves—not just as writers, but as thinkers.”
“I usually struggle with where to start when I write,” commented Jenny C. ’27. “The prompts she provided really helped me. I ended up writing a piece I’m actually proud of.” Adrian Y. ’27 continued: “It gave me the chance to think more about what I’m trying to say in my poetry. She helped me realize that revision isn’t about getting it ‘right’—it’s about discovering more of the truth in what I’ve written.”
A highlight of the visit was a community poetry reading held in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre. The evening featured Ms. Solfrian reading selections of her own poetry, followed by students presenting poems they had developed during her visit. Reflecting on the reading, Ms. Solfrian said, “It’s always moving to hear students read their work aloud—there’s a kind of bravery and honesty in it that reminds us why poetry matters.”
Ms. Solfrian’s residency not only deepened our students appreciation for poetry but also served as a fitting prelude to Storm King’s 11th Annual Poetry Festival, set to take place during Spring Arts Weekend. As the Festival approaches, her visit has helped lay the groundwork for a vibrant celebration of student voice and creative expression.
Joanna Solfrian, award-winning poet and longtime judge of the Storm King School’s annual Poetry Festival