JMArts Scholars 2019 applications now being accepted

SILER CITY, N.C. — Applications for 2019 JMArts Scholars are now being accepted on a rolling basis through April 1 for students interested in intensive study this summer in the arts.

Current JM freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for scholarships allowing them to study the arts this summer. Most attend weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses, though other arts educational offerings are considered as well.

Since being launched in 2012, the JMArts Scholars program has awarded 54 scholarships to 36 students who develop their talent, explore artistic options before making their college decisions and bring what they learn back to share with other JM students.

Scholarships are funded by individual contributions to the foundation, community fundraisers and ticket sales for the fall musical and major concerts during the academic year. Additional financial contributions to fund summer scholarships are now being accepted on the JMArts website, Facebook page and through the mail.

Here are last year’s JMArts Scholars and where they studied:

• Corrine Collison, ECU Summer Choir Camp

• David Gonzalez Hernandez, ECU Summer Band Camp (Concert Track)

• Aaron Partin, ECU Summer Band Camp (Concert Track)

• Jennifer Trejo Benitez, UNC Music Workshop

• Jackie Vasquez, UNCG Summer Arts and Design Intensive

• Samantha Zarate, ECU Summer Choir Camp

• Jose Zendejas, ECU Summer Band Camp (Jazz Track)

Students must complete the 2019 JMArts Scholars application online no later than April 1, but are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, since some decisions will be made earlier than the deadline, allowing students to secure spots in some of the high-demand workshops. A list of some workshops statewide is available from the JMArts Scholars application.

More information about the program — including a list of all JMArts Scholars since 2012 — is available online at JMArts.org.

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2018 JMArts Scholars

Contestants set for “Sing and Play” musical competition on February 21

SILER CITY, N.C. — Showcase contestants have been selected for “Sing and Play '19,” the second-annual musical competition scheduled for February 21 at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.

The showcase concert highlights talented student musicians and raises money for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide what student artists need to excel.

Eighteen musical acts selected during auditions will perform in separate elementary, middle and high school competitions.

Elementary contestants are Brianna Balderas of Siler City Elementary, Jack and Jillian Dixon of Silk Hope School, Destiny Lyna Lowery of Chatham Charter, Hanna Mikolajec of Perry Harrison Elementary School, Zoe Murphy of Virginia Cross Elementary and Adrian Willett of Perry Harrison Elementary School.

Middle school contestants are Carolyn England of J.S. Waters School, Ian McMillan of Chatham Middle School, Zuzanna Mikolajec of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, Cameron Parker of Praise Homeschool, Buck and Maggie Thornton of Chatham Middle School, and Marcella Willett of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School.

The showcase will conclude with six high school performances. Courtney Shackelford, Jennifer Trejo Benitez, Jackie Vasquez and Amari Yarborough compete from Jordan-Matthews High School. Duan Bowen and Faith Tysor represent Chatham Central High School.

“We’re so glad to see even more students in our auditions this year!” said Greg Burriss, who directs the competition and selected contestants with his fellow judge, Joseph Walden. “There’s lots of talent and enthusiasm. It’s a tough job to choose the final contestants, but we’re excited about this opportunity for these young people.”

“Sing and Play” is open to both instrumental and vocal acts, with students competing for a $50 prize in each age division. Winners will be selected by audience vote during the showcase concert on February 21, at 6:30 p.m.

General admission is $5 per person and includes one vote in each age-based competition.

“We are thrilled to continue bringing great family entertainment highlighting talented students from all over our area,” said JMArts president Rose Pate. “‘Sing and Play’ is a fun-filled celebration of music along with a little friendly rivalry, as everyone cheers on and votes for their favorite performers.”

All money raised by the competition will be used by JMArts for educational projects, including its New York Arts Adventure. That trip scheduled over spring break gives upperclass musicians, actors and visual artists an opportunity to explore one of the world’s great cities, experience the very best in the arts and gain new perspectives and experiences that will influence their lives and work.

Not only will travelers attend performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Jazz at Lincoln Center and on Broadway, but they will learn from world-class professionals. That includes discussing theater over lunch with The Washington Post chief theater critic Peter Marks; seeing the new Broadway musical “Tootsie” and learning about the show afterward from actor Andy Grotelueschen, who plays the role of Jeff Slater; and exploring street art on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and learning graffiti technique in a hands-on workshop with noted artist JCORP.

More information about “Sing and Play” performers will be available online at facebook.com/JMHSArts. Details about JMArts and other events scheduled for this season are online at jmarts.org.

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Jennifer Trejo Benitez of Jordan-Matthews High School auditions for Sing and Play ’19, a musical competition open to elementary, middle and high school students throughout the area. She was one of 18 student acts selected for the showcase concert on February 21.

Jack and Jillian Dixon of Silk Hope School audition for Sing and Play ’19, a musical competition open to elementary, middle and high school students throughout the area. The duo will perform on February 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sing and Play showcase concert at Jordan-Matthews.

Joseph Walden, left, and Greg Burriss evaluate auditions for Sing and Play ‘19. Audiences will select the winners in separate elementary, middle and high school competitions during the Sing and Play showcase concert on February 21 at Jordan-Matthews High School.

"Scene X Scene" announces students in JM’s first-ever acting intensive

SILER CITY, N.C. — "Scene X Scene," the first acting intensive ever offered at Jordan-Matthews High School, has accepted 21 students to participate in a series of after-school workshops culminating in a free community performance.

Applicants admitted to "Scene X Scene" are Gisselle Aleman Moreno, Lindley Andrew, Laci Burt, Jackie Carrillo, Ivanol Chay-Perez, Corrine Collison, Litzy Garcia Santos, David Gonzalez, Andrea Lopez, Mia Lopez-Calvo, Zy'kiuh Marsh, Alana May, Kayli McIntosh, July Ramos Corona, Hannah Redding, Natalie Santiago, Conrad Suits, Sydney Suits, Jennifer Trejo Benitez, Jackie Vasquez and Samantha Zarate.

"Scene X Scene" is offered by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, to help aspiring actors build their skills by working on dramatic scenes in two-hour, weekly workshops. The focus on working “scene by scene” gives the acting intensive its name.

Participants will offer a free showcase performance on May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Jordan-Matthews High School Auditorium, followed by a reception for the actors and audience in the JM Media Center.

Jessica Nunn, founder and director of The Phoenix Theatre Company, is leading the acting intensive as workshop clinician and director of the showcase performance. She believes this focus on acting is a great opportunity for all of the students. “Each student has an opportunity to improve their skills set, beyond just character choices for the musical,” Nunn said. “Also, it’s a great chance for each student to be a lead character!”

"Scene X Scene" is offered free to students thanks to support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, through the Chatham Arts Council.

"We're thrilled that the Chatham Arts Council is supporting this project," said Rose Pate, president of JMArts. "It's meeting a real need because there's no formal theater education in the Siler City area. And after reading our student applications, it was clear there's a real desire for this experience.”

More information about JMArts and other events scheduled for this season is available at jmarts.org.

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