JMArts names summer arts scholarship to remember student Summer Soria Mora

SILER CITY, N.C. — A JMArts Scholars award has been named to celebrate the life of Jordan-Matthews High School sophomore Summer Soria Mora, who passed away earlier this month.

JMArts Scholars are selected each year and presented a scholarship for intensive study over the summer, usually at weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses. Soria Mora, an inspiring alto saxophonist who performed in the Jordan-Matthews and All-Chatham bands, was a 2025 JMArts Scholar who cared for everyone and made life better for all who knew her.

The award will be named the JMArts Summer Soria Mora Scholarship at least for the next three years when she would have been studying at Jordan-Matthews, with the possibility that it may be extended indefinitely. JMArts President Rose Pate said the board wanted to make sure that her high school classmates could honor and carry on her legacy.

“Being a JMArts Scholar was a game-changer for me while I was a student at JM,” said band director Aaron Partin, who was awarded scholarships in 2017 and 2018 before studying at Greensboro College and returning to teach Soria Mora at his alma mater. “I’m glad we can honor Summer’s memory and impact in this way.”

Since being launched in 2012, the JMArts Scholar program has awarded 113 scholarships to 79 students, who develop their talent and explore artistic options before making their college decisions. Anyone wanting to contribute in memory of Soria Mora can find information online at jmarts.org.

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Summer Soria Mora, a talented alto saxophonist, was honored last spring as a JMArts Scholar and now a scholarship has been named to celebrate her life. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Eighth-annual Sing and Play student music competition set for February

SILER CITY, N.C. — Sing and Play ’26, the eighth-annual music competition for students from elementary through high school, returns next month with auditions and its popular showcase concert at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.

Instrumental and vocal acts will compete for a $50 prize awarded for the best performance in each of three age categories — elementary, middle school and high school. Acts may be individuals or ensembles up to four people, with all performers being full-time students in a North Carolina public, private or home school.

Auditions will be held by appointment in the Jordan-Matthews Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m., when a panel of judges will select four to six acts in each age category to perform in the showcase competition. Auditions are held with an educational focus, providing an opportunity for young, aspiring performers to experience the audition process in a supportive environment. Individuals and ensembles planning to audition must register online by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30.

The Sing and Play Showcase competition concert will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. Immediately following all performances, winners in each age category will be selected by audience vote. General admission is $5 per person and includes one vote in each category.

Last year’s winners were Madilyn Brown of Bonlee School in the elementary division, Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick of Margaret B. Pollard Middle in the middle school division and Street Mob of Jordan-Matthews High School in the high school division. Sing and Play ’25 was hosted by JM actor-musicians David Ta’Bon and Samantha Wieber.

An overview of this year’s competition — including rules and a link to the registration form — is available online at jmarts.org/s/SingAndPlayRules26.pdf.

Sing and Play is an annual fundraiser for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit created to provide what student actors, artists, dancers and musicians need to excel.

All money raised by the competition will be used to expand opportunity for high school artists, including students honored as JMArts Scholars. Since being launched in 2012, JMArts has awarded 113 scholarships to 79 students 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 Jordan-Matthews students.

More information about JMArts and other events scheduled for this season is available at jmarts.org.

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Champions of Sing and Play ’25 with the show’s co-hosts are co-host David Ta’Bon, high school champion Street Mob (Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot), middle school champions Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick, elementary champion Madilyn Brown and co-host Samantha Wieber. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Street Mob of Jordan-Matthews took the prize in the high school competition at Sing and Play ’25. Band members were Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School finished on top of the Sing and Play ’25 middle school competition. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Audience members voted Madilyn Brown of Bonlee School as best performance in the Sing and Play ’25 elementary division. (Photo by Chip Pate)

JM Arts Students to Explore World-Class Art with Grant from Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund

SILER CITY, N.C. — More than 60 Jordan-Matthews High School arts students will have an opportunity to experience world-class performances this spring thanks to a grant from the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund.

The contribution made to JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, funds two of the six events in this second season of Pinnacle of the Arts, a series allowing Jordan-Matthews students to experience world-class arts regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

All events — including outstanding seating locations, transportation and a meal — are offered to students entirely free of charge. Most also provide personal interaction with the performers, who answer questions and provide expert perspective illuminating the artistic work students are encountering.

The Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund grant makes it possible for more than 30 Jordan-Matthews artists to experience the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the nation’s largest and one of the world’s most acclaimed modern dance companies.

It also makes it possible for another group of 30 Jordan-Matthews artists to attend the North American Broadway tour of “Hamilton,” a cultural force now celebrating its 10th anniversary. “Hamilton" received of 11 Tony Awards in 2016 — the second-most ever awarded, one short of “The Producers” — as well as the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

“Many Galloway residents have told me of the wonderful memories they have of arts experiences,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “We are grateful they have chosen to help our students have these memories as well!”

Pinnacle of the Arts began in September with the Kotis Street Art Experience, an expert tour of world-class street art in Greensboro followed by a hands-on spray-art workshop. Other events this year include Handel’s “Messiah” performed by the North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina Master Chorale; a daylong, behind-the-scenes look at the North Carolina Museum of Art; and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

Those events also are offered free of charge with contributions from another community foundation and a local strategic communications consultant.

More information about Pinnacle of the Arts is available at jmarts.org/pinnacle, on the JMArts website that also includes information about JMArts Scholars, Chatham Rabbits, Jordan-Matthews High School arts events and other projects to help high school artists’ dreams come true.

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North Carolina Symphony violinist Pablo Sánchez Pazos, left, and musical director and conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto discuss their careers and performance last spring after Jordan-Matthews artists heard the orchestra perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Before dancers took the stage last December for “The Nutcracker,” JM artists discussed dance and this Carolina Ballet production with three dancers from the company — from left, Daphne Little, Alexa Testa and Emily Fretz — as well as with chief advancement officer Adam Schiffer. (Photo by Rose Pate)

After the curtain fell on the evening’s performance of “Kimberly Akimbo,” cast members, company managers and the production's musical director from the national Broadway tour led a fascinating discussion with Jordan-Matthews artists about theater and what the students just saw on stage. (Photo by Rose Pate)