Seven student artists named 2022 JMArts Scholars

SILER CITY, N.C. — Seven students have been named JMArts Scholars by the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, all receiving scholarships to pursue intensive fine arts study this summer.

They are Victoria Barlow, Clara Rojas, David Tabon, Buck Thornton, Andrey Ureña Secena, Karsyn Vann and Traycee Wall.

Scholarships are funded through individual contributions to the foundation and donations received at concerts and other events.

“I’m thrilled that our students have the chance to participate in these workshops in person again,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “To take a ‘deep dive’ into an artistic project surrounded by others who are as excited as you are will not only bring them joy, but a great deal of learning. And for those who are staying on campus, it’s a tantalizing snapshot of the college experience.”

This year's scholars represent music, theater and visual arts — all areas of the arts at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Barlow and Rojas will attend the UNCG Summer Art and Design Intensive in Greensboro.

Tabon and Vann will attend the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Senior High Band in Greensboro.

Thornton will attend the Summer Youth Conservatory Theatre Intensive at PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill.

Ureña Secena will attend the Temple Theatre Musical Theatre Conservatory in Sanford.

And Wall will attend the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Senior Mixed Chorus in Greensboro.

Since creating the awards one decade ago, JMArts has presented 80 scholarships to 56 students, with some receiving awards to study for more than one summer. The initiative was designed to help young artists develop their talent, explore artistic options before making their college decisions and bring what they learn back to share with other Jordan-Matthews students.

Businesses and individuals interested in contributing to the JMArts Scholars program or other projects for high school artists may contact Pate at info@jmarts.org. Checks can be mailed to JMArts, PO Box 395, Siler City, NC, 27344.

More information about JMArts, including details about JMArts Scholars and upcoming events, is available at jmarts.org.

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JMArts Scholars preparing for study this summer are (standing from left) Clara Rojas, David Tabon and Andrey Ureña Secena; (kneeling from left), Karsyn Vann, Traycee Wall and Victoria Barlow; and (in front) Buck Thornton. (Photo by Chip Pate)

JMArts Founder and President Rose Pate Announces Retirement From Teaching

SILER CITY, N.C. — While very little will change for how the nonprofit foundation operates, JMArts President Rose Pate announced her retirement from teaching last month after serving 41 years as teacher and librarian at Jordan-Matthews High School.

She will continue as president of JMArts and, in a slightly different formal capacity, will continue her work as producer of the school’s annual musical and other arts events, leader of the New York Arts Adventure and beloved advisor to many JM students.

After planning months for the change, Pate made the announcement on April 1 to groups of JM students and to the JM faculty. Her retirement takes effect on June 30.

Pate is a founder of JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, creating the organization in 2011 to bring theater back to JM after many decades and to provide new, innovative opportunities for all JM performing and visual artists.

Everything JMArts now offers has been developed under her direction.

That includes JMArts Scholars, giving returning students the opportunity for intensive, residential arts study over the summer on university campuses; the New York Arts Adventure, giving students the chance to experience the pinnacle of their arts and learn directly from world-class professionals; and Sing and Play, the music competition giving students in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the area a chance to experience auditions and perform in front of audiences.

Also, JM’s annual musical, for which she wrote the books in the first two years when no money was available to purchase theatrical rights; character fundraising breakfasts for children in the community; the Spring Theater Workshop; music clinics like this year’s Latin jazz clinic with Gregg Gelb and La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet; artist residencies, including a semester where Paperhand Puppet Intervention worked with JM art students to produce puppets for the “Into the Woods” musical; and student trips each year to experience national Broadway tours and regional theater productions at venues like Durham Performing Arts Center, PlayMakers Repertory Company and Temple Theatre.

Just this season, Pate took small groups of JM theater artists to attend several productions at PlayMakers: “The Skin of Our Teeth,” “Stick Fly,” “Yoga Play” and “A Wrinkle in Time” — that final show including a post-show workshop conducted by actor Sergio Mauritz Ang, a member of JMArts and the PlayMakers company.

In addition to her creative and management work, Pate has been a major financial contributor to all JMArts projects, from major student trips to JMArts Coffee Days, which provide free beverages at the Chatham Rabbit for JM artists on selected dates throughout the year.

“I have loved being part of the JM family and treasure my time serving them as the librarian,” Rose says. “I’m looking forward to more flexibility in my schedule and more great arts experiences for our students!”

Rose Pate in the 1982-83 Jordan-Matthews yearbook, during her second year of teaching, and as her retirement was announced last month to students and faculty.

“Oklahoma!” returns musical theater to Jordan-Matthews on March 25-27

SILER CITY, N.C. — The iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical “Oklahoma!” returns musical theater to Jordan-Matthews High School later this month after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

Performances at the JM Auditorium are Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 26, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 27, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 each and now available online at JMArtsTickets.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door before each performance. No passes — including Chatham County Schools and senior citizens’ passes — can be accepted. Everyone entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

“Oklahoma!,” by musical theater legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, took Broadway by storm when it opened in 1943. Its frontier setting, glorious music and broad comedy have delighted audiences all over the world for almost 70 years, including in the classic 1955 film starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae.

The developing romance between cowboy Curly and farm girl Laurey forms the heart of the story. But Will Parker’s quest to get $50 cash so he can marry Ado Annie is complicated by the womanizing peddler Ali Hakim — and by the farmhand Jud, who is determined to push Curly aside and win Laurey. At any cost.

Jordan-Matthews’ production features a 24-member cast, with students in art and carpentry classes building and painting scenery.

While the musical is a family favorite, producer Rose Pate says “Oklahoma!” may not be appropriate for younger children. A minimum age of 8-years-old to attend is strongly suggested because of the length of the show and some stage violence. Still, she said, it’s a show that will connect with audiences.

“This show has everything — memorable music, lots of humor and a sweet romance,” Pate said. “It’s a great show for families to see together.”

Creating a full-scale musical is an enormous challenge under the best of circumstances, but particularly when the last musical ended in November 2019 before the pandemic. On the other hand, director Sawyer Shafer believes the students’ joy being back on stage is driving their work.

“I’ve had a wonderful time working with the kids on this production,” he said. “Jordan-Matthews has a lot of talent that I’m sure will shine through in this year’s performance. It’s exciting to see how happy they are to finally be back on stage after two years!”

Shafer is in his first year as director, succeeding Jessica Nunn, who recently accepted a teaching position in England. Also in his first year working with Jordan-Matthews theater is Elliott Peterson, who began teaching music at the school last semester. He had some apprehension about being the musical director for “Oklahoma!” because, as he pointed out, “it’s no walk in the park” and he didn’t know what to expect. But he has been impressed.

“I am so pleased with the amount of growth and progress these actors have shown since the first rehearsal in every aspect, but especially the music,” he said. “To have students who have never been in a choir sing in multiple part harmonies after only a couple weeks of music rehearsals reminds me why musical theater is so special. You can feel the joy in their voices with every note they sing.”

Other members of the creative team are Cynthia Bredenberg on wardrobe and scenery designers Ting Lam and Marcus Lawson, all Jordan-Matthews faculty. Sophomore Sarah Dekaney is the dance captain, and senior Paige Colborne and sophomore Andrey Urena Secena are stage managers.

More information about the production and other arts events scheduled for this season is available online at jmarts.org.

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Curly (Buck Thornton) tells Aunt Eller (Emma Wieber) that it’s a “beautiful morning” in the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “Oklahoma!,” that runs March 25 to 27 at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Jud (Wilson Ramos Meza, left) runs up the bidding at the box social auction run by Aunt Eller (Emma Wieber) while a desperate Curly (Buck Thornton) tries to sell his saddle to raise money. Musical theater returns to Jordan-Matthews later this month with three performances of “Oklahoma!” on March 25 to 27.

Andrew Carnes (Louis Graham), from left, makes it clear to the peddler Ali Hakim (Calvin Conroy) that he’d better marry Ado Annie (Laci Burt) — much to the distress of Will Parker (Brady Andrew). Three public performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” are set for Jordan-Matthews High School on March 25-27.

Everyone is excited that Oklahoma is about to become a state. Among the Jordan-Matthews High School actors performing in the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!” are, from left, Brady Andrew, Laci Burt, Calvin Conroy, Buck Thornton, Louis Graham, Courtney Shackelford and Emma Wieber.