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

SILER CITY — Three local students took top prizes last night in “Sing and Play ’24,” the sixth-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 fun benefit concert for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Audience members voted Ella Stewart, a fifth-grader at George Moses Horton Middle, as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “When Will My Life Begin,” an Alan Menken and Glenn Slater song from the film “Tangled.”

Josephine Chen of Woods Charter School finished on top of the middle school competition with her vocal performance of “Rolling in the Deep,” a song recorded and cowritten by Adele.

And in the high school competition, Sandra Gisel Lopez of Jordan-Matthews High School took the prize for singing the Laufey song, “From the Start.”

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

Rose Pate, president of JMArts, said the entire event is a significant growth opportunity for students. “The whole process of choosing a song, auditioning, practicing and performing is a valuable learning experience,” she said. “And the end product is a great night of family entertainment for our community.”

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 co-director of Fiasco Theater Jessie Austrian; former 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 during open auditions by judges Jennifer Benitez, Greg Burriss and Matt Fry.

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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Champions of “Sing and Play ’24” with the show’s co-hosts are, from left, elementary champion Ella Stewart, co-host Andrey Ureña-Seceña, middle school champion Josephine Chen, high school champion Sandra Gisel Lopez and co-host Karsyn Vann. (Photo by Chip Pate)

High School Winner: Sandra Gisel Lopez of Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Middle School Winner: Josephine Chen of Woods Charter School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Elementary School Winner: Ella Stewart of George Moses Horton Middle School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Contestants Set for 'Sing and Play '24' Student Music Competition on February 22

SILER CITY, N.C. — Showcase contestants have been selected for “Sing and Play ’24,” the sixth-annual music competition hitting the stage later this month at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.

The showcase concert on February 22 at 6:30 p.m. highlights talented student musicians throughout the area and raises money for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide what student artists need to excel.

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

Judges Jennifer Benitez, Greg Burriss and Matt Fry selected 15 musical acts during open auditions to perform in separate elementary, middle and high school competitions. Winners will be selected by audience vote and each receives a $50 cash prize.

Elementary contestants are Samuel Antonio Melgar of Virginia Cross Elementary, Evelyn Miranda of Virginia Cross Elementary, Zeilan Smith of Chatham Charter and Ella Stewart in fifth grade at George Moses Horton Middle.

Middle school contestants are Shanita Abetia of George Moses Horton Middle, Ares Adams of Chatham Middle, Brianna L. Balderas of Chatham Middle, Fiona Bebber of Margaret B. Pollard Middle and Josephine Chen of Woods Charter.

The competition will conclude with six high school performances. TavalynRae Gray, Ari Ibarra, Sandra Gisel Lopez, Natalie Morales Zagada, Serena Pietri and the duet of Traycee Wall and Cassidy DeShazo all represent Jordan-Matthews.

This year’s showcase will feature guest performances by Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle, winner of last year’s middle school competition, and Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews, winner of last year’s high school competition.

The concert will be cohosted by Jordan-Matthews actor-musicians Karsyn Vann and Andrey Ureña-Seceña

“We love to see how students grow in confidence through this experience,” said JMArts President Rose Pate, who noted that performers from outside Chatham also were eligible. “And we are delighted to have students that enjoy the experience so much they return to the competition!”

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.

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.

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Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle won the middle school competition at last year’s event and will return to perform as one of two guest artists at “Sing and Play ’24” on February 22 at Jordan-Matthews High School. The annual competition was created as a performance opportunity for student musicians and a fundraiser for JMArts. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews High School won the high school competition at last year’s event and will return to perform as a guest artist at “Sing and Play ’24.” The benefit concert on February 22 will be cohosted by Jordan-Matthews High School actor-musicians Karsyn Vann and Andrey Ureña-Seceña. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Sing and Play logo

Opportunity Expands for JM Music Students Thanks to Grant From New Horizons Band

SILER CITY, N.C. — Music students at Jordan-Matthews High School have new instruments to play and more opportunity to learn thanks to a contribution from New Horizons Band and Chorus of the Triangle, a local nonprofit group of adult musicians who have decided to disband after challenges reorganizing from the pandemic shutdowns.

“We were so sorry to hear about their decision to disband, but we’re grateful that their musical legacy will live on in the lives of so many high school musicians who now have opportunities they would never have enjoyed before,” said Rose Pate, president of JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, that accepted the contribution on behalf of the school. “We already have students ready to make the most of this generous gift.”

Valued at more than $30,000, the contribution from the band and members Betty and John King includes seven musical instruments, sheet music, a portable sound system and a $4,000 cash donation for the school’s band and choral music programs.

Pate said that many students would like to learn to play, but are not in a position to purchase or rent instruments. This gives them an opportunity they would not have had before. “One of our students has said for a long time that she wanted to learn the French Horn, but that was not even possible until we received this contribution, which includes a professional horn with a detachable bell. What a difference this will make for all of our musicians.”

Sara Bird, the New Horizons Band treasurer, was happy that the donation was so needed. “The Kings and I have fond memories of playing in high school band and singing in the chorus,” she said. “These were important lifetime skills that have provided equally enjoyable years after retirement. We hoped our donation would provide these same opportunities to young students.”

Jordan-Matthews Band Director Aaron Partin said he was amazed when he learned about the donation. “When I saw all of the items on the donation list, I was speechless,” he said. “These are concert-quality instruments that will be essential, amazing assets for our band program.”

And chorus teacher Allison Blaylock agreed with what it means for music students, saying that the high-quality, portable sound system and microphones will give vocalists more options to perform, especially in remote venues.

JMArts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing opportunity for Jordan-Matthews student actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists. Their most prominent initiative is the JMArts Scholars program that has awarded 89 scholarships to 60 students for intensive study over the summer, usually at weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses.

But the group does much more. It takes students over spring break to experience the pinnacle of their arts in its five-day New York Arts Adventure, offers the annual Sing and Play student music competition in February and produces the school’s annual musical, working with Jordan-Matthews faculty, staff and students.

This year’s musical is the North Carolina School Premiere of “Frozen,” the first-ever production of the full Broadway musical in the state. Jordan-Matthews received the rights in a national competition with public performances scheduled for April 19-21.

More about JMArts, including the school's statewide premiere of “Frozen,” is available at jmarts.org.

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Trumpeter Maxy Vasquez Gomez performs with the Jordan-Matthews band during last year's Holiday Showcase concert. Seven musical instruments, including a Bach B-Flat Limited Edition trumpet, are part of the contribution from The New Horizons Band.  (Photo by Chip Pate)

Jordan-Matthews vocalists perform last December during the school’s annual holiday concert. The sound system contributed by the New Horizons Band will open new opportunities for musicians to perform in remote venues. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Jordan-Matthews musician Abby Cockrum performs on saxophone with the Jordan-Matthews band at the school’s 2023 Holiday Showcase and will play clarinet in the pit orchestra for JM’s North Carolina Premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical.” Two saxophones were part of The New Horizon Band's contribution. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Among the seven instruments contributed to Jordan-Matthews High School by The New Horizon Band is this Holton H279 Farkas Professional French Horn with a detachable bell. French horn is an instrument one student musician has been wanting to learn. (Photo by Rose Pate)