SILER CITY, N.C. — Showcase contestants have been selected for “Sing and Play ’24,” the sixth-annual music competition hitting the stage later this month at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.
The showcase concert on February 22 at 6:30 p.m. highlights talented student musicians throughout the area and raises money for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide what student artists need to excel.
General admission is $5 per person and includes one vote in each age-based competition.
Judges Jennifer Benitez, Greg Burriss and Matt Fry selected 15 musical acts during open auditions to perform in separate elementary, middle and high school competitions. Winners will be selected by audience vote and each receives a $50 cash prize.
Elementary contestants are Samuel Antonio Melgar of Virginia Cross Elementary, Evelyn Miranda of Virginia Cross Elementary, Zeilan Smith of Chatham Charter and Ella Stewart in fifth grade at George Moses Horton Middle.
Middle school contestants are Shanita Abetia of George Moses Horton Middle, Ares Adams of Chatham Middle, Brianna L. Balderas of Chatham Middle, Fiona Bebber of Margaret B. Pollard Middle and Josephine Chen of Woods Charter.
The competition will conclude with six high school performances. TavalynRae Gray, Ari Ibarra, Sandra Gisel Lopez, Natalie Morales Zagada, Serena Pietri and the duet of Traycee Wall and Cassidy DeShazo all represent Jordan-Matthews.
This year’s showcase will feature guest performances by Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle, winner of last year’s middle school competition, and Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews, winner of last year’s high school competition.
The concert will be cohosted by Jordan-Matthews actor-musicians Karsyn Vann and Andrey Ureña-Seceña
“We love to see how students grow in confidence through this experience,” said JMArts President Rose Pate, who noted that performers from outside Chatham also were eligible. “And we are delighted to have students that enjoy the experience so much they return to the competition!”
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.
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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Hailey King of George Moses Horton Middle won the middle school competition at last year’s event and will return to perform as one of two guest artists at “Sing and Play ’24” on February 22 at Jordan-Matthews High School. The annual competition was created as a performance opportunity for student musicians and a fundraiser for JMArts. (Photo by Chip Pate)
Clara Rojas of Jordan-Matthews High School won the high school competition at last year’s event and will return to perform as a guest artist at “Sing and Play ’24.” The benefit concert on February 22 will be cohosted by Jordan-Matthews High School actor-musicians Karsyn Vann and Andrey Ureña-Seceña. (Photo by Chip Pate)
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