SILER CITY, N.C. — Showcase contestants have been selected for “Sing and Play ’22,” the fourth-annual music competition scheduled for February 24 at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.
The showcase concert highlights talented student musicians and raises money for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide what student artists need to excel.
Nineteen musical acts selected during auditions will perform in separate elementary, middle and high school competitions.
Elementary contestants are Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School, Melissa Freitas of North Chatham Elementary, Pax Henry of Chatham Grove Elementary, Hailey Lyn King of Horton Middle, Emma Ortiz of Pittsboro Elementary and Reese and Olivia Terry of Chatham Grove Elementary.
Middle school contestants are Makayla Headen and Kayle Maxfield of Chatham Middle, Jacob Hoopes of Pollard Middle, Rebecca Hoopes of Pollard Middle, Brianna Jannett Leandro Balderas of Chatham Middle, Zachary Klingel of Pollard Middle and Alexandra Varchenko of Woods Charter.
The competition will conclude with seven high school performances. King Aguiluz, BreAnna Cheek, Laci Burt, Maggie and Buck Thornton, Natalie Morales Zagada, Courtney Shackelford and Teylor Simone Matthews all represent Jordan-Matthews.
This year’s showcase will feature a guest performance by Oliver Vang, who won the most recent elementary competition in 2020 representing Moncure School.
“It's a great feeling to be back,” said Greg Burriss, who selected showcase contestants with fellow judges Joseph Walden and Matt Fry. “We love to hear these students singing and playing their instruments. They continue to impress us with their talent.
“As educators, we are so excited to see them expressing themselves. And we know they can learn and grow as they audition and perform.”
“Sing and Play” is open to both instrumental and vocal acts, with students competing for a $50 prize in each age division. Winners will be selected by audience vote during the showcase concert on Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m., at Jordan-Matthews.
General admission is $5 per person and includes one vote in each age-based competition.
JMArts president Rose Pate expects an enthusiastic crowd for Sing and Play ’22. “This year, we had our highest registration ever for auditions,” she said. “With performers in the showcase representing nine schools, it’s clear our whole community is ready to be entertained!”
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.
Not only will travelers attend performances on and off Broadway, but they will learn from world-class professionals. That includes discussing theater over lunch with Peter Marks, theater critic for The Washington Post; discussing life in the arts with Jessie Austrian, a theater director, Broadway actor and co-founder and co-artistic director of the renowned Fiasco Theater; and exploring street art in Brooklyn before learning graffiti technique in a hands-on workshop.
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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Oliver Vang of Moncure School performs at Sing and Play ’20, the annual music competition for elementary, middle and high school students throughout the area. As reigning champion in the elementary division, with last year’s event canceled because of the pandemic, Vang will return as guest vocalist this month at Sing and Play ’22 on Feb. 24 at Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)