SILER CITY, N.C. — Sing and Play ’23, the fifth-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 Tuesday, Feb. 7, 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 Tuesday, Jan. 31.
The Sing and Play Showcase competition concert will be Thursday, Feb. 23, 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 Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School in the elementary division, Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard in the middle school division and the duet of Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews in the high school division. Sing and Play ’22 was hosted by JM actor-musicians Wilson Ramos Meza and Litzy Garcia.
An overview of the competition — including rules and a link to the registration form — is available online at jmarts.org/s/JMASingAndPlayRules2023.pdf.
Sing and Play is a fundraiser for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit created to provide what student artists need to excel.
Money raised by the competition will be used by JMArts for educational projects, including its annual New York Arts Adventure. Scheduled over spring break, the educational trip to New York City gives a group of upperclass musicians, actors and visual artists an opportunity to explore one of the world’s great cities, experience the very best in their arts and gain new perspectives and experiences that will influence their lives and work. Several world-class actors, musicians and critics meet with JM artists during the five-day adventure.
More information about JMArts and other events scheduled for this season is available at jmarts.org.
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Winners of “Sing and Play ’22” with the show’s co-hosts were, from left, co-host Wilson Ramos Meza, Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School, Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School and co-host Litzy Garcia. (Photo by Chip Pate)
Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews took the prize in the high school competition at “Sing and Play ’22” for their vocal duet with guitar of “April Come She Will.” (Photo by Chip Pate)
Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard topped an exceptionally strong middle school competition at “Sing and Play ’22” with his vocal and guitar performance of “Old Church Choir.” (Photo by Chip Pate)
Audience members at “Sing and Play ’22” voted Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “Lost Boy.” (Photo by Chip Pate)