William Pate

March 7, 2023

JMArts Songwriting Workshop Offered With Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund

William Pate

March 7, 2023

SILER CITY, N.C. — “Sharing Our Musical Voices,” a songwriting workshop for about 20 Jordan-Matthews High School students — culminating in a free public concert — will be offered this spring thanks to a grant by the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund.

Two hands-on sessions led by musician-songwriter Mark Dillon will be held after school on April 5 and 26. They will introduce songwriting basics and techniques — including production methods and how to copyright original work — and help students begin composing original songs.

The workshop then concludes with a free, public, coffeehouse concert on May 10, where students will present their original work and a guest artist will perform. The concert will be held at 6 p.m. outdoors on the Rotary Stage in downtown Siler City, adjacent to The Chatham Rabbit and NC Arts Incubator.

“The purpose of the songwriting workshop is to write one good song,” says Dillon. “As minor an accomplishment as that sounds, writing one good song leads to the ability to write more good songs (and maybe a few bad ones as well).”

A former Jordan-Matthews music teacher, Dillon was born into a musical family. His first memories are of sitting on Dolly Parton’s lap while watching his great-uncle Lloyd’s country radio show. After finishing a degree in music theory and then a master’s degree in guitar building, he started a business repairing guitars while playing music most nights in the Chicago area. Later, he became a high school music teacher and specialized in teaching popular music and recording.

Dillon went on to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in music education. He currently performs regularly, including with The Zinc Kings folk and string band, and teaches commercial music at Guilford Technical Community College and songwriting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He maintains a website at markdillonmusic.com.

The Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund, which provided funding for “Sharing Our Musical Voices,” awards community grants to Chatham County not-for-profits, public schools and county government agencies to support food, shelter, education and community services projects.

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

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Singer-songwriter Mark Dillon will lead “Sharing Our Musical Voices,” a free student songwriting workshop and public concert this spring at Jordan-Matthews High School funded by the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund.

William Pate

March 2, 2023

Fearrington Village Singers Donation Creates 2023 JMArts Scholarships in Music

William Pate

March 2, 2023

SILER CITY, N.C. — More musicians at Jordan-Matthews High School will have an opportunity to study music and experience life on a college campus this summer thanks to a contribution to JMArts by the Fearrington Village Singers.

Musicians, donors and patrons of the choral group based in Fearrington Village made a one-time, $4,000 gift to establish 2023 JMArts-Fearrington Village Singers scholarships as part of JMArts Scholars. The flagship project of JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, allows JM actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists to pursue intensive fine arts study over the summer, usually at weeklong residential programs based on college campuses.

Scholarships funded by the Fearrington Village Singers will focus on students studying vocal and instrumental music.

Since being launched in 2012, 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, experience life on campus and bring what they learn back to share with other JM students.

Seven students were named JMArts Scholars last year. Victoria Barlow and Clara Rojas attended the UNCG Summer Art and Design Intensive in Greensboro. David Ta'Bon and Karsyn Vann attended the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Senior High Band in Greensboro. Buck Thornton attended the Summer Youth Conservatory Theatre Intensive at PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill. Andrey Ureña-Seceña attended the Temple Theatre Musical Theatre Conservatory in Sanford. And Traycee Wall attended the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Senior Mixed Chorus in Greensboro.

The number of scholarships offered each summer depends on contributions received throughout the year. Scholarships are funded by primarily by individual and organizational contributions to the foundation, but also by community fundraisers and ticket sales for the annual musical and major concerts during the academic year. This year’s annual musical, “Shrek The Musical,” opens later this month with performances on March 30, March 31 and April 2.

Organizations and individuals interested in contributing to JMArts Scholars may contact JMArts President Rose Pate at info@jmarts.org. Contributions are accepted online at JMArts.org or can be mailed to JMArts, PO Box 395, Siler City, NC, 27344.

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

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2022 JMArts Scholars studying last summer were, from left, Clara Rojas, Karsyn Vann, David Ta’Bon, Traycee Wall, Andrey Ureña-Seceña, Victoria Barlow and, in front, Buck Thornton. (Photo by Chip Pate)

William Pate

February 24, 2023

Student musicians take top prizes in JMArts’s fifth-annual “Sing and Play”

William Pate

February 24, 2023

SILER CITY, N.C. — Three local students took top prizes last night in “Sing and Play ’23,” the fifth-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 Emma Ortiz of Pittsboro Elementary as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “Never Enough,” a Benj Pasek and Justin Paul song from the film, “The Greatest Showman.”

Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle School finished on top of the middle school competition with her vocal performance of “Fingers Crossed,” a song recorded and cowritten by Lauren Spencer-Smith.

And in the high school competition, Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews High School took the prize for singing Carly Simon’s classic, “You’re So Vain.”

Though this year’s winners were all vocalists, “Sing and Play” also featured instrumental performances on electric guitar, violin and piano. The winner in each of the three divisions received a $50 prize.

Rose Pate, president of JMArts, said the whole event is a real team effort. “This is a collaboration of the Jordan-Matthews students, parents and staff,” she said. “I’m so proud how everyone worked together to produce this great night of family entertainment.”

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 and Tony Award-nominee Andy Grotelueschen; 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 Jennifer Benitez, Greg Burriss and Matt Fry 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.

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