JMArts Honors Top Student Artists at 2024 Jordan-Matthews Awards Ceremony

SILER CITY, N.C. — Twenty-five actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists were honored for their outstanding work by JMArts at the school’s 2024 Senior Awards Ceremony, held in May to celebrate top Jordan-Matthews High School students across all disciplines.

Bryan Onda was named the 2024 Outstanding Graduate in Band. The alto saxophone player and veteran performer was part of the Jordan-Matthews band all four years of his high school career, performing in both the concert and pep bands. Band director Aaron Partin said Onda has been an important part of the school’s instrumental ensembles.

Kyleigh Martinez was named the 2024 Outstanding Graduate in Dance. The dancer was honored for her strong leadership in class and her willingness to try new things. Dance teacher Hannah Marr said Martinez was always passionate about being able to study dance in the two-year-old Jordan-Matthews dance program and always brought a “bright, bubbly energy to class.”

JMArts Scholar Serena Pietri was named the 2024 Outstanding Graduate in Jazz. The veteran trumpet player was an integral part of the Jordan-Matthews pep, concert and jazz bands, and performed with professional and other top local student musicians in the pit orchestra for the North Carolina school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical.” Band director Aaron Partin said her love for music is just one of the many reasons she was selected for the award. Pietri plans to attend Greensboro College this fall and major in music education.

Jacqueline Basilio was named the 2024 Outstanding Graduate in Theater. The veteran actor was honored during the summer of 2023 to study theater at the prestigious North Carolina Governor’s School, a six-week enrichment opportunity for top high school students across the state, and appeared in many Jordan-Matthews productions. She most recently appeared as Queen Iduna in the North Carolina school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical,” after also performing as Fiona in “Shrek: The Musical” and in various roles in “Oklahoma!”, “Clue” and “The Female Gaze.” Theater teacher Mikala Richardson said Basilio was a stellar student who brought true commitment and a genuine passion about the arts to everything she did. Basilio plans to attend Central Carolina Community College this fall.

Jacquelinne Rodriguez Hernandez was named the 2024 Outstanding Graduate in Visual Art after investing four years of study in Jordan-Matthews art classes and always bringing an impressive outlook to the studio. Art teacher Laura Newman said Rodriguez Hernandez most notably worked hard to overcome language barriers and demonstrated a clear dedication and sustained commitment to her work.

Jose Corona Vicente and Sandra Lopez were both named 2024 Outstanding Graduates in Vocal Music.

Corona Vicente is an outstanding vocalist who showed dedication, passion and a genuine love for vocal music. He performed with the One Chatham Chorus and Jordan-Matthews a cappella choir, as Prince Hans in the North Caroilna school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical” and a soloist for Arts Day at the North Carolina Legislature. Choral director Allison Blaylock said Corona Vicente grew tremendously over his last year, not only in vocal ability, but also in confidence and leadership — all attributes leading to his selection for the award. Corona Vicente plans to enroll in Central Carolina Community College this fall with the goal of transferring to a four-year university through the college’s dual-admission program.

Lopez is an exceptional musician who was a standout leader vocal music class. She performed in the One Chatham Chorus and Jordan-Matthews a cappella choir, as Olaf in the North Carolina school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical" and as a soloist and guitarist for Arts Day at the North Carolina Legislature. Choral director Blaylock said Lopez was selected for her outstanding musicianship, dedication and leadership throughout her tenure. Lopez plans to enroll in Central Carolina Community College this fall with the goal of transferring to a four-year university through the college’s dual-admission program.

Other awards recognized outstanding students early in their high school studies who have already demonstrated significant artistic potential.

Jobanny Benitez Espinoza, a freshman, received the 2024 Young Actor Award for demonstrating great potential on stage — especially in his role as The Bishop in “Frozen: The Broadway Musical” — and for his willingness to take artistic risks.

Dulce Herrera Duarte, a sophomore, received the 2024 Young Artist Award for her attention to detail in artistic work and her long-term potential to develop as a talented artist.

Gisele Lopez Hernandez, a sophomore, received the 2024 Young Dancer Award for everything she brought to class — including an infectious energy, carefree spirit, eagerness to learn and exceptional caring about her fellow dancers.

Amariah Payne and JMArts Scholar Jonathan Vasquez, both sophomores, each received 2024 Young Instrumentalist Awards. Payne, a trumpet player and new member of the band, grew significantly in musicianship over just one semester of study and arrived in rehearsal every day ready to learn and help others. Vasquez, a baritone saxophonist and marching band section leader, was honored for his love for music and the people around him.

JMArts Scholar Delaney Fuquay, a freshman, received the 2024 Young Vocalist Award for her natural vocal talent and for her inspiring dedication, kindness and love for making music as part of the ensemble for “Frozen: The Broadway Musical.”

Also honored during the ceremony were 12 previously announced JMArts Scholars, each one earning a scholarship for intensive arts study over the summer — most at a weeklong, residential workshop offered on a university campus. They are Felix Banks, Abigail Cockrum, Delaney Fuquay, Tavvy Gray, Carolyn Lucero Santiago, Natalie Morales Zagada, Eleanor Reece, Ayden Saxe, David Ta’Bon, Jonathan Vasquez, Maxy Vasquez and Samantha Wieber.

Three JMArts awards recipients were honored in separate ceremonies earlier this year. They are Karsyn Vann and Andrey Ureña-Seceña, who received the Kaitlin James Theater Award before the closing performance of “Frozen,” and Stephanie Aleman, who received the 2023 Holiday Card Award last fall for having her work selected for JMArts’ annual holiday card.

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

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Many Jordan-Matthews High School arts students attended the school’s 2024 Senior Awards Ceremony in late May to receive recognition as outstanding graduates or young artists in band, dance, theater, visual arts and vocal music. They were, from left, Sandra Lopez, Jose Corona Vicente, Delaney Fuquay, Jacquelinne Rodriguez Hernandez, Jacqueline Basilio, Kyleigh Martinez, Bryan Onda, Jonathan Vasquez and Serena Pietri. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Zachary D. Wills receives 2024 JMArts Community Hero Award

SILER CITY, N.C. — Dr. Zachary D. Wills, the Silk Hope School music teacher who organized and directed the pit orchestra for Jordan-Matthews High School’s North Carolina Premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical,” has been named the 2024 JMArts Community Hero.

Presented this year for the fifth time, the annual award was created to honor a volunteer from the community who has contributed significantly to the success of the arts at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Wills is a music educator currently teaching general music and band at Silk Hope School. He has served in the Marine Corps bands as an instrumentalist and small ensemble leader for 13 years, and has taught music for more than two decades to students from kindergarten through graduate school. He received his doctorate in music education this spring from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

JMArts President Rose Pate said Wills’s contribution was more than anyone could have expected when he volunteered last summer to serve as “Frozen” orchestra director. Not only did he recruit, rehearse and direct the 20-member ensemble, a collaboration of students and teachers across Chatham County Schools, but Wills served as a musical consultant at every stage of the production. And it came at a critical time, when “Frozen” was being developed with an entirely new fine arts faculty.

“Zach’s participation was a critical part of ‘Frozen’ production planning, especially with five new arts teachers,” Pate said. “His enthusiasm and musicianship brought together students, staff, alumni and community members — and created a landmark theater experience for our cast and community.”

This year’s award was presented remotely from The Chatham Rabbit as part of JMArts’s unveiling celebration for the next musical. “Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical” will fill the JM stage during the spring semester with three public performances on March 14-16.

“Thank you to all from the bottom of my heart,” said Wills after accepting the award. “I count it a blessing to have been involved in some small way with such a successful year for the arts at JM and in Chatham County.”

Previous JMArts Community Hero Award winners are Cynthia Bredenberg, Dr. William “Chip” Pate, Sharon Allen and Denise Partin.

More information about JMArts is available online at JMArts.org. The site includes a list of all student award winners over the last several years and details about many foundation initiatives including its flagship JMArts Scholars.

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Zachary D. Wills, left, with other Chatham County public school music directors who performed as part of the 20-piece pit orchestra for JM’s sold-out North Carolina premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical.” (Photo by Chip Pate)

Twelve Local High School Student Artists Named 2024 JMArts Scholars

MORE THAN 100 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
SINCE 2012 FOR SUMMER STUDY

SILER CITY, N.C. — Twelve students have been named 2024 JMArts Scholars by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, all receiving scholarships to pursue intensive fine arts study this summer.

They are Felix Banks, Abigail Cockrum, Delaney Fuquay, Tavvy Gray, Carolyn Lucero Santiago, Natalie Morales Zagada, Eleanor Reece, Ayden Saxe, David Ta’Bon, Jonathan Vasquez, Maxy Vasquez and Samantha Wieber.

Scholarships are funded each year primarily through individual contributions to the foundation and donations received at concerts and other events. Most scholars choose to attend weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses.

This year, three students studying vocal music — Banks, Gray and Morales Zagada — have been named JMArts-Fearrington Village Singers Scholars thanks to a generous contribution from the community chorus composed of residents of Fearrington Village, Galloway Ridge and surrounding areas.

One other student, Lucero Santiago, has been named a JMArts-Mike Williams Scholar thanks to a generous contribution from the Jordan-Matthews PTA in memory of the late Jordan-Matthews science teacher.

“We are able to offer these life-changing experiences because of the generous support of our members,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “This project is at the heart of our mission to make the arts accessible to our students.”

Cockrum, Lucero Santiago, Saxe, Ta’Bon, Jonathan Vasquez and Maxy Vasquez will attend the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Band in Greensboro.

Banks, Fuquay, Gray, Morales Zagada and Reece will attend the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Chorus in Greensboro.

Wieber will attend the Dance Project Teen Technique Clinic in Greensboro.

Since creating the awards 12 years ago, JMArts has presented 101 scholarships to 70 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.

Organizations and individuals interested in contributing to the JMArts Scholars program or other projects for high school artists may contact Pate at info@jmarts.org. Contributions can be made online by Venmo or PayPal and 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. Fearrington Village Singers maintain their website at fearringtonvillagesingers.org.

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JMArts Scholars preparing for study this summer are (back row from left) Natalie Morales Zagada, Tavvy Gray, Felix Banks, Samantha Wieber, Delaney Fuquay, Eleanor Reece and David Ta’Bon, (middle row) Abigail Cockrum, Carolyn Lucero Santiago, Maxy Vasquez and Jonathan Vasquez and (front) Ayden Saxe. (Photo by Chip Pate)