SILER CITY — Three local students took top prizes last night in “Sing and Play ’24,” the sixth-annual student music competition at Jordan-Matthews High School. From auditions through the showcase concert, the event is designed as an educational experience for young musicians and a fun benefit concert for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Audience members voted Ella Stewart, a fifth-grader at George Moses Horton Middle, as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “When Will My Life Begin,” an Alan Menken and Glenn Slater song from the film “Tangled.”

Josephine Chen of Woods Charter School finished on top of the middle school competition with her vocal performance of “Rolling in the Deep,” a song recorded and cowritten by Adele.

And in the high school competition, Sandra Gisel Lopez of Jordan-Matthews High School took the prize for singing the Laufey song, “From the Start.”

Though this year’s winners were all vocalists, “Sing and Play” also featured an instrumental performance on trumpet. The winner in each of the three divisions received a $50 prize.

Rose Pate, president of JMArts, said the entire event is a significant growth opportunity for students. “The whole process of choosing a song, auditioning, practicing and performing is a valuable learning experience,” she said. “And the end product is a great night of family entertainment for our community.”

All money raised by the competition is used by JMArts to expand opportunity for high school artists, including those participating in the annual New York Arts Adventure. That 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 and experiences that will influence their lives and work.

Students this year will have the opportunity to learn from Broadway actor and co-director of Fiasco Theater Jessie Austrian; former Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks and a notable graffiti writer working in the city. Other opportunities to interact with world-class artists are still being arranged.

Musicians from Chatham County and across the state were eligible for “Sing and Play.” Contestants in the showcase concert were selected during open auditions by judges Jennifer Benitez, Greg Burriss and Matt Fry.

Pate expects “Sing and Play” to return next year with registration for auditions opening sometime around December 1. JMArts is already looking at possible dates for next year’s competition, which is likely to be held once again in mid- to late-February.

More information about “Sing and Play” and other arts events scheduled this season is available at jmarts.org. Photos from this year's showcase concert are online at facebook.com/JMHSArts.

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