SILER CITY, N.C. — Sing and Play ’24, the sixth-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. 6, 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 Wednesday, Jan. 31.
The Sing and Play Showcase competition concert will be Thursday, Feb. 22, 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 Emma Ortiz of Pittsboro Elementary in the elementary division, Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle School in the middle school division and Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews in the high school division. Sing and Play ’23 was hosted by JM actor-musicians Sanaiya Cheek and Louis Graham.
An overview of the competition — including rules and a link to the registration form — is available online at jmarts.org/s/JMASingAndPlay24Rules.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, dancers 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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Champions of “Sing and Play ’23” with the show’s co-hosts were, from left, Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews High School, co-host Sanaiya Cheek, Emma Ortiz of Pittsboro Elementary, Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle and co-host Louis Graham. (Photo by Chip Pate)
Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews took the prize in the high school competition at “Sing and Play ’23” for her vocal performance of Carly Simon’s classic, “You’re So Vain.” (Photo by Chip Pate)
Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle School finished on top of the “Sing and Play ’23" middle school competition with her vocal performance of “Fingers Crossed,” (Photo by Chip Pate)
Audience members voted Emma Ortiz of Pittsboro Elementary as best performance in the “Sing and Play ’23” elementary division for her vocal rendition of “Never Enough” from the film, “The Greatest Showman.” (Photo by Chip Pate)