La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet performs free public concert on March 11

SILER CITY, N.C. — Gregg Gelb and La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet will perform a free public concert at Jordan-Matthews High School on Friday, March 11, at 7 p.m., as part of a Latin Jazz clinic for middle and high school students.

The concert was originally scheduled in late January to conclude the clinic, but had to be postponed because of weather advisories for evening travel.

Gelb is a professional saxophonist, clarinetist, jazz composer and jazz band leader who leads The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra and has performed with many different groups, including the North Carolina Symphony. He currently directs the award-winning Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble, which has been selected five times for the finals of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition and festival, and has served as an interim assistant professor of jazz at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and UNC Greensboro.

La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet includes musicians from North Carolina, one of whom is originally from the Dominican Republic. The ensemble teaches jazz history, the improvisation process and performs at events all across the state — drawing for its repertoire on music by jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Horace Silver.

Scheduled to perform in the 75-minute concert are Steve Anderson on piano, Andy Kleindienst on bass, Beverly Botsford on percussion, Ramon Ortiz on drums, Andrew Sanchez on trumpet and Gregg Gelb on saxophone. Some of the group's featured tunes are “Cape Verdean Blues,” “Oye Como Va,” “Mambo Inn” and “Son de la Loma.”

Though Chatham County Schools policy could change based on future pandemic conditions in our community, beginning on March 7, masks will be optional while in the school building and attending this concert.

Kaleb Moffitt, a percussionist who heard the sextet perform in January as the clinic opened, thought the music was amazing and suggested that everyone come to hear the magic. “I thought it was beautiful; I got a little teary watching them,” he said. “I would pay to see them again. Anybody who likes music should come to this concert.”

Both the concert and jazz clinic are supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The 2021 Grassroots Arts Grant for $1,550 covers half of the program cost; the rest will be matched by JMArts through member contributions and fundraising projects like the sale of JMArts greeting and holiday cards.

More information about JMArts, including a schedule of all upcoming arts events and information on membership, is available online at JMArts.org.

####

The Gregg Gelb and La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet clinic and concert are being supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Student musicians take top prizes in JMArts's fourth-annual “Sing and Play”

SILER CITY, N.C. — Four local students took top prizes tonight in “Sing and Play ’22,” the fourth-annual student music competition at Jordan-Matthews High School. From auditions through the showcase concert, the event is designed as an educational experience for young musicians and a benefit concert for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Audience members voted Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “Lost Boy,” a song written and recorded by Ruth B.

Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School topped an exceptionally strong middle school competition with his vocal and guitar performance of “Old Church Choir,” a song written and recorded by Zach Williams.

And in the high school competition, Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School took the prize for their vocal duet with guitar of “April Come She Will,” a song written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon and Garfunkel.

“Sing and Play” is open to instrumental and vocal acts. While most sang to prerecorded accompaniment tracks, there were instrumental performances on five different instruments as well as vocalists who accompanied themselves on piano and guitar. The winner of each division received a $50 prize.

Rose Pate, president of JMArts, said she loves how everyone supports all of the performers. “It’s great to see how the community responds to the students,” she said. “It’s awfully hard to walk out on that stage in the bright lights, but the audience cheers for every kid like they’re their own.”

All money raised by the competition is used by JMArts to expand opportunity for high school artists, including those participating in the annual 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.

Students this year will have the opportunity to learn from Broadway actor, theater producer and director Jessie Austrian of Fiasco Theater; Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks and a notable graffiti writer working in the city. Other opportunities to interact with world-class artists are still being arranged.

Musicians from Chatham County and across the state were eligible for “Sing and Play.” Contestants in the showcase concert were selected by judges Greg Burriss, Matt Fry and Joseph Walden during auditions held in early February.

Pate expects “Sing and Play” to return next year with registration for auditions opening sometime around December 1. JMArts is already looking at possible dates for next year’s competition, which is likely to be held once again in mid- to late-February.

More information about “Sing and Play” and other arts events scheduled this season is available at jmarts.org. Photos from this year's showcase concert are online at facebook.com/JMHSArts.

####

Winners of “Sing and Play ’22” with the show’s co-hosts were, from left, co-host Wilson Ramos Meza, Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School, Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School and co-host Litzy Garcia. (Photo by Chip Pate)

High School Winner: Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Middle School Winner: Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Elementary School Winner: Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Contestants set for “Sing and Play ’22” student music competition on Feb. 24

SILER CITY, N.C. — Showcase contestants have been selected for “Sing and Play ’22,” the fourth-annual music competition scheduled for February 24 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.

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

Elementary contestants are Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School, Melissa Freitas of North Chatham Elementary, Pax Henry of Chatham Grove Elementary, Hailey Lyn King of Horton Middle, Emma Ortiz of Pittsboro Elementary and Reese and Olivia Terry of Chatham Grove Elementary.

Middle school contestants are Makayla Headen and Kayle Maxfield of Chatham Middle, Jacob Hoopes of Pollard Middle, Rebecca Hoopes of Pollard Middle, Brianna Jannett Leandro Balderas of Chatham Middle, Zachary Klingel of Pollard Middle and Alexandra Varchenko of Woods Charter.

The competition will conclude with seven high school performances. King Aguiluz, BreAnna Cheek, Laci Burt, Maggie and Buck Thornton, Natalie Morales Zagada, Courtney Shackelford and Teylor Simone Matthews all represent Jordan-Matthews.

This year’s showcase will feature a guest performance by Oliver Vang, who won the most recent elementary competition in 2020 representing Moncure School.

“It's a great feeling to be back,” said Greg Burriss, who selected showcase contestants with fellow judges Joseph Walden and Matt Fry. “We love to hear these students singing and playing their instruments. They continue to impress us with their talent.

“As educators, we are so excited to see them expressing themselves. And we know they can learn and grow as they audition and perform.”

“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 Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m., at Jordan-Matthews.

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

JMArts president Rose Pate expects an enthusiastic crowd for Sing and Play ’22. “This year, we had our highest registration ever for auditions,” she said. “With performers in the showcase representing nine schools, it’s clear our whole community is ready to be entertained!”

All money raised by the competition will be used by JMArts for educational projects, including its New York Arts Adventure. That annual 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 that will influence their lives and work.

Not only will travelers attend performances on and off Broadway, but they will learn from world-class professionals. That includes discussing theater over lunch with Peter Marks, theater critic for The Washington Post; discussing life in the arts with Jessie Austrian, a theater director, Broadway actor and co-founder and co-artistic director of the renowned Fiasco Theater; and exploring street art in Brooklyn before learning graffiti technique in a hands-on workshop.

More information about “Sing and Play” performers will be published on JMArts social media. Details about JMArts and other events scheduled for this season are online at jmarts.org.

# # # #

Oliver Vang of Moncure School performs at Sing and Play ’20, the annual music competition for elementary, middle and high school students throughout the area. As reigning champion in the elementary division, with last year’s event canceled because of the pandemic, Vang will return as guest vocalist this month at Sing and Play ’22 on Feb. 24 at Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)