SILER CITY, N.C. — Sing and Play ’26, the eighth-annual music competition for students from elementary through high school, returns next month with auditions and its popular showcase concert at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.
Instrumental and vocal acts will compete for a $50 prize awarded for the best performance in each of three age categories — elementary, middle school and high school. Acts may be individuals or ensembles up to four people, with all performers being full-time students in a North Carolina public, private or home school.
Auditions will be held by appointment in the Jordan-Matthews Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m., when a panel of judges will select four to six acts in each age category to perform in the showcase competition. Auditions are held with an educational focus, providing an opportunity for young, aspiring performers to experience the audition process in a supportive environment. Individuals and ensembles planning to audition must register online by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30.
The Sing and Play Showcase competition concert will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. Immediately following all performances, winners in each age category will be selected by audience vote. General admission is $5 per person and includes one vote in each category.
Last year’s winners were Madilyn Brown of Bonlee School in the elementary division, Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick of Margaret B. Pollard Middle in the middle school division and Street Mob of Jordan-Matthews High School in the high school division. Sing and Play ’25 was hosted by JM actor-musicians David Ta’Bon and Samantha Wieber.
An overview of this year’s competition — including rules and a link to the registration form — is available online at jmarts.org/s/SingAndPlayRules26.pdf.
Sing and Play is an annual fundraiser for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit created to provide what student actors, artists, dancers and musicians need to excel.
All money raised by the competition will be used to expand opportunity for high school artists, including students honored as JMArts Scholars. Since being launched in 2012, JMArts has awarded 113 scholarships to 79 students for intensive study over the summer, usually at weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses. JMArts Scholars develop their talent, explore artistic options before making their college decisions and bring what they learn back to share with other Jordan-Matthews students.
More information about JMArts and other events scheduled for this season is available at jmarts.org.
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Champions of Sing and Play ’25 with the show’s co-hosts are co-host David Ta’Bon, high school champion Street Mob (Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot), middle school champions Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick, elementary champion Madilyn Brown and co-host Samantha Wieber. (Photo by Chip Pate)
Street Mob of Jordan-Matthews took the prize in the high school competition at Sing and Play ’25. Band members were Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot. (Photo by Chip Pate)
Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School finished on top of the Sing and Play ’25 middle school competition. (Photo by Chip Pate)
Audience members voted Madilyn Brown of Bonlee School as best performance in the Sing and Play ’25 elementary division. (Photo by Chip Pate)
