Youth Choirs Celebrate Local Musician in Gatesville Holiday Cantata

Gatesville residents gathered on December 11 for Joy to the City, a youth Christmas cantata organized to honor the life and work of musician Jarin "JC Stringz" Cole. The event brought together school choirs, community ensembles and other youth musical groups in a family friendly concert that doubled as a memorial and seasonal celebration.

“Young musicians and community groups are uniting for 'Joy to the City'…honoring local musician Jarin 'JC Stringz' Cole.” Organizers said the program was designed to remember Cole’s contributions to the Gatesville area music scene, to showcase student talent and to knit community members together through shared performance. Reporters spoke with Cole’s mother and several event organizers about the cantata’s purpose and the importance of sustaining youth music opportunities.

Attendance reflected broad community interest. Families filled seats and younger performers received visible support from teachers, parents and neighbors. For many attendees the event was more than entertainment. Local educators and organizers framed the cantata as part of a broader effort to keep arts education accessible, to provide structured creative outlets for young people and to build relationships across generations.

Public health experts emphasize that arts engagement supports mental health and resilience, especially for adolescents. In Coryell County, where access to extracurricular arts programs varies by school and neighborhood, events like Joy to the City offer low barrier participation and public visibility for student musicians. Organizers noted the concert connected to other holiday programming in the region and invited ongoing community involvement in youth music.

The cantata also highlighted equity questions about long term funding and support for youth arts. Organizers asked residents to consider how local policy and private support can sustain music teachers, rehearsal space and instruments for all students. For those who want to support youth music programs, organizers encouraged attendance at future performances volunteer time and donations to school and community ensembles.

Joy to the City showed how a single concert can honor a local artist while serving practical community health and social goals, reinforcing that investment in the arts can strengthen both individuals and the social fabric of Coryell County.