Opportunity for Student Artists Expanded Thanks to Chatham Arts Council Grants

SILER CITY, N.C. — Major projects to expand opportunity for student artists received a significant boost this month when the Chatham Arts Council awarded two grants to JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

One award, known as a “capacity-building grant,” helps strengthen organizations and provide better programs to constituents and the entire community. For JMArts, that $5,456 grant will provide professional time and expertise for the nonprofit to research potential sources of ongoing outside income, develop its public outreach and improve the sound system used for public performances.

A second award, part of the Grassroots Grant initiative, provides a matching grant of $3,050 to pay professional musicians performing in the pit orchestra and as rehearsal pianist for Jordan-Matthews High School’s upcoming North Carolina School Premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical.”

Jordan-Matthews was selected in a national contest to present the first school performances of “Frozen” ever produced in the state. The production, with public performances from April 19-21, features a 20-member pit orchestra in a collaboration among student and professional musicians. Student musicians from Jordan-Matthews, Northwood and Seaforth high schools were selected in open auditions. Professional musicians, nearly all affiliated with Chatham County Schools, will join students in the orchestra directed by Silk Hope School music teacher Zachary Wills.

“JMArts brings the kinds of arts experiences to students in Chatham County that change lives, so it’s no surprise, really, that Jordan-Matthews was selected to stage ‘Frozen,’” said Chatham Arts Council Artistic Director Cheryl Chamblee. “At the Chatham Arts Council, we’re thrilled to be a small part of helping make ‘Frozen’ happen — both by supporting the project, itself, and by supporting the capacity-building work that enables JMArts to do even stronger, even more inclusive and even more sustainable work.”

JMArts already has a vibrant portfolio of projects — all designed, as the organization puts it, to help students interested in the arts reach their dreams, whether that means a career in the arts or a lifetime of artistic expression.

Its flagship initiative, JMArts Scholars, has awarded 89 scholarships to 60 students since 2012 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 students.

But that’s just the start. JMArts’s most visible project may be producing the annual musical; last year, it was “Shrek The Musical.” The nonprofit also takes eight upperclass arts students to New York City each spring break to learn directly from world-renowned artists; works with community partners to offer free student workshops led by professional artists; produces the annual “Sing and Play” student music competition for K-12 musicians throughout the area; and offers a variety of public concerts and events.

“We appreciate the ongoing support of the Chatham Arts Council,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “Not only will we be able to secure microphone upgrades and training for our staff with the capacity grant, but our production of ‘Frozen’ will be significantly enhanced by the professional musicians in our pit orchestra. The experience of rehearsing and performing with professionals will be a unique and important experience for our student musicians from all across Chatham County.”

Pate said that more than one-third of all seats for “Frozen” — and more than half for the closing performance — have already been sold. General admission tickets are $8 each and available now at JMArtsTickets.com.

Information about the North Carolina School Premiere of “Frozen” is updated regularly on a special page for the musical at JMArts.org/frozen. That website also includes comprehensive information about JMArts, JMArts Scholars and all upcoming Jordan-Matthews arts events. 

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Fiona (Jacqueline Basilio), from left, Donkey (Karsyn Vann) and Shrek (Buck Thornton) embrace their authentic selves at the conclusion of “Shrek The Musical,” produced by JMArts with the Jordan-Matthews High School fine arts department. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Nine returning Jordan-Matthews students were named JMArts Scholars in May and studied last summer at intensive arts workshops — most attending residential programs on university campuses. They are, from left, Elizabeth Vasquez Perez, Serena Pietri, Abigail Cockrum, Clara Rojas, Sandra Lopez, Karsyn Vann, Traycee Wall, Andrey Ureña-Seceña and David Ta’Bon. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Recent projects to strengthen JMArts and develop the “Frozen” orchestra were possible thanks to grants from the Chatham Arts Council. 

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)

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