Siler City, NC – Five students have been named JMArts Scholars by the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, recognizing their excellence and dedication to the arts.
They are Brady Andrew, Tiana Brooks, Laci Burt, Josselyn Gonzalez Hernandez and Andrea Santiago. Brooks is the 2020 JMArts-Rotary Scholar, receiving a scholarship provided by the Rotary Club of Siler City.
BRADY ANDREW, a rising sophomore and JMArts Scholar, has already made his mark at Jordan-Matthews High School in both instrumental music and theater. He brought his trumpet skills to the field as part of the Jammin’ Jets Marching Band and to the stage with the JM Concert Band, being selected last fall for the Chatham All-County Band. In “Into the Woods” he portrayed the Mysterious Man.
Brady was selected to study trumpet at the UNCG Summer Music Camp. “I feel like this music camp will help me to work on my playing technique and embouchure and help me make new friends that have similar passions and hobbies as I do,” said Brady. “I hope to learn more about different styles of music and how music has changed though the decades. I also hope to be able to practice my trumpeting and becoming more confident in my phrasing and music reading.”
Because intensive summer arts programs have been canceled statewide due to the pandemic, all 2020 JMArts Scholars will receive a $100 award deposited in their JM arts accounts, which can be used to purchase arts supplies or attend arts performances during the academic year. JMArts Scholars who will be returning to JM for the 2021-22 academic year also will be guaranteed summer study next year.
LACI BURT, a rising junior and JMArts Scholar, has been active in both choral music and theater. She appeared on stage as Atina in “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” and Jack’s Mother in “Into the Woods,” and participated in JMArts’ Scene X Scene acting intensive. Laci is a two-time member of the Chatham All-County Chorus and was a finalist in the 2020 Sing and Play musical competition.
Laci was selected to study vocal music at the UNC Summer Music Workshop at UNC-Chapel Hill. “This program will give me the opportunity to work with professionals while also meeting new people who love to do what I do!” said Laci. “I hope to learn more about how to stretch my vocal range as well as how to breathe properly when I’m singing. I also would love to learn new ways to warm up and see how Mr. Fry’s warm-ups compare. This program will give me the skills to become the best singer I could possibly be, while also learning about music in general.”
TIANA BROOKS, a rising senior and this year’s JMArts-Rotary Scholar, has demonstrated excellence in visual arts, winning first place in JMArts’ Path to the Woods show with her piece, “Flower for your thoughts”. Her work was also chosen to represent Jordan-Matthews High School in the Chatham Artists Guild 2019 Studio Tour Student Show.
Tiana was selected to study at the UNCG Summer Arts and Design Intensive. “I feel prepared because I know I will be in good hands with many talented people,” said Tiana. “I feel like this experience will teach me many things I need to learn to make my art better and be more prepared for what the future holds for me.”
JOSSELYN GONZALEZ HERNANDEZ, a rising senior and JMArts Scholar, has been a leader in instrumental music — performing in the Jordan-Matthews High School Marching Band, Concert Band and guitar ensembles — and a member of the technical crew for “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” and “Into the Woods.”
Josselyn was selected to attend the High School Music Technology Camp at NC State University, where students study audio engineering and digital music composition. “I like to think as myself as a musician because I like to listen to music, but also like to play music or an instrument,” said Josselyn. “Music has had a great impact in my life and is something that I think that I would like to study in the near future.”
ANDREA SANTIAGO, a rising sophomore and JMArts Scholar, is a trumpet player in the Jordan-Matthews High School Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble, and was part of the theater technical crew as a spotlight operator for “Into the Woods.”
Andrea was selected to attend the ECU Summer Band Camp in the Concert Band Track. “I enjoy playing all types of music, but I love concert music the most because you get to hear all kinds of different melodies and harmonies just mixing and blending together, and I like being a part of making music happen,” said Andrea. “I think playing music with people you’ve never met and making amazing music is a great bonding experience.”
Because intensive summer arts programs have been canceled statewide due to the pandemic, all 2020 JMArts Scholars will receive a $100 award deposited in their JM arts accounts, which can be used to purchase arts supplies or attend arts performances during the academic year. JMArts Scholars who will be returning to JM for the 2021-22 academic year also will be guaranteed summer study next year.
Because intensive summer arts programs have been canceled statewide due to the pandemic, all 2020 JMArts Scholars will receive a $100 award deposited in their JM arts accounts, which can be used to purchase arts supplies or attend arts performances during the academic year. JMArts Scholars who will be returning to JM for the 2021-22 academic year also will be guaranteed summer study next year.
Because intensive summer arts programs have been canceled statewide due to the pandemic, all 2020 JMArts Scholars will receive a $100 award deposited in their JM arts accounts, which can be used to purchase arts supplies or attend arts performances during the academic year. JMArts Scholars who will be returning to JM for the 2021-22 academic year also will be guaranteed summer study next year.
Because intensive summer arts programs have been canceled statewide due to the pandemic, all 2020 JMArts Scholars will receive a $100 award deposited in their JM arts accounts, which can be used to purchase arts supplies or attend arts performances during the academic year. JMArts Scholars who will be returning to JM for the 2021-22 academic year also will be guaranteed summer study next year.
JMArts Scholars generally receive funding for intensive summer study at weeklong, residential workshops on university campuses. But because summer arts programs have been canceled statewide during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s honorees will receive a $100 award deposited in their Jordan-Matthews High School arts accounts, which can be used to purchase specialized arts supplies or attend arts performances during the academic year. Sophomores and freshmen returning to JM for the 2021-22 academic year will be guaranteed summer study next year.
Scholarships are funded through individual contributions to the foundation and from income generated by ticket sales for the annual fall musical, fundraising projects and admission from a few major concerts during the academic year.
“So many things have been disrupted for our students this spring that we wanted to give them this honor,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “And we want to give them hope that learning about what they love will continue.”
The artists had applied for scholarships before summer workshops were canceled. Andrew was planning to attend the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Greensboro, Brooks had applied for the UNCG Summer Arts and Design Intensive, Burt was making her second trip to the UNC Music Workshop in Chapel Hill, Gonzalez Hernandez was planning to attend the NC State High School Music Technology Camp in Raleigh and Santiago was applying for the ECU Summer Band Camp in Greenville.
Since creating the awards eight years ago, JMArts has presented 67 scholarships to 44 students, with some receiving awards to study for more than one summer. The initiative was designed to help young artists develop their talent, explore artistic options before making their college decisions and bring what they learn back to share with other Jordan-Matthews students.
Businesses and individuals interested in contributing to the JMArts Scholars program or other projects for high school artists may contact Pate at 919-742-2916 or . Checks can be mailed to JMArts, PO Box 395, Siler City, NC, 27344.
More information about JMArts, including details about JMArts Scholars and upcoming events, is available at jmarts.org