As new members of our Chatham County community, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series this year because art is an integral part of Chatham County’s identity. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . .
On February 20, 15 student performers ranging from fourth through twelfth grade from schools across Chatham County, including two homeschooled contestants, will each get their turn on the stage in the spotlight to vie for a coveted $50 prize for their age division.
The third annual “Sing and Play” concert, which will be held at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City on February 20 at 6:30pm, raises money for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide what student artists need to excel.
“The idea for Sing and Play came from Paul Orsett, the drama teacher at Wakefield High School in Raleigh. They’ve held a similar event for years, and for us, it seemed like a great opportunity to highlight local talent and raise money for JMArts,” says JMArts president Rose Pate. “This will be our third year producing the show, and we expect another fun evening of family entertainment for our whole community.”
In the style of talent shows such as America’s Got Talent and American Idol, the audience gets to be involved in the judging. “Part of the fun is that the audience members judge the actual competition. Each audience member receives a ballot and marks their favorites,” says competition director Greg Burriss.
All money raised by the competition will be used by JMArts for educational projects, including its New York Arts Adventure. The trip, scheduled for spring break, will give eight upper class musicians, actors, and visual artists an opportunity to explore New York City to experience the very best in the arts and gain new perspectives that will influence their lives and work.
Not only will the group attend performances on and off Broadway, but they will learn from world-class professionals, including an opportunity to discuss theater over lunch with The Washington Post chief theater critic Peter Marks, and an opportunity to discuss life in the arts with Tony Award nominee Andy Grotelueschen, who recently performed in the Broadway musical “Tootsie.” The group will also explore street art in Brooklyn and learn graffiti techniques in a hands-on workshop.
Past winners have all continued to work in the arts, including the 2019 high school winner, JMHS senior Jennifer Trejo Benitez, who played Ariel in JMHS’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid as well as The Witch in Into the Woods last fall. Jennifer will be performing at this year’s show as a special guest. The 2018 high school winner, Corrine Collison, is now studying music at Sandhills Community College.
“Each year we’re delighted to see the variety of talent and expression among the young people in our county,” notes Burriss. “We consider it a privilege to offer this audition and performance opportunity to so many aspiring musicians. We know that young performers can benefit from the challenge of competition and the chance to audition in front of accomplished artists.”
Please mark your calendars for Thursday, February 20 to see these talented performers at Jordan-Matthews High School and support the arts in Chatham County!
- What: “Sing and Play ‘20” music competition
- When: Thursday, February 20, 6:30pm
- Where: Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City
- What Will This Cost Me? Admission is $5
- Accessibility: Yes
- Parking: Free parking at the school
- For more info: Please visit https://www.jmarts.org/events/2020/2/20/sing-and-play-20
Leave a Reply