Patch Whiz Kids of the Week: Jacob and Ryan Jewell

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week we highlight the Jewell brothers, of St. Pius X School, for their musical and theater talents.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Jacob and Ryan Jewell

Whiz Kids' Age: Jacob, 14, and Ryan, 12

Whiz Kids' School:

Whiz Kids' Accomplishment: Seventh grader Ryan and eighth grader Jacob at Pius X are amazing performs, bringing people to their feet in ovations every time they perform or sing. The brothers are part of the Catholic Community Choir at St. Kevin Church in Springfield and Ridley Community Center. Heavily involved in musicals, the boys have performed together on numerous occasions–the most recent in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Ryan as Joseph and Jacob as Simeone) in November. The boys just recently landed the lead roles of Horton the elephant (Jacob) and Mr. Mayor in Seussical the Musical. You can catch them on stage at the Ridley Community Center from March 15-19.

In addition, the Jewell brothers sing at mass at St. Kevin's once a month as well as several performances at St. Pius X. They can also be seen volunteering with St. Pius X's younger students at summer camp, basketball clinics, etc.

Whiz Kids' Key to Awesomeness: With only two years under their belt at St. Pius X–both previously attended Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic School in Carneys Point, NJ, before heading back to their mom's hometown in Broomall–Jacob and Ryan are already rising stars at the school.

"We've been doing it for a long time," said Jacob. "We sang at our old school and we received many compliments on our singing and acting...it's just so much fun to keep doing it."

"It was nice to see that we brought smiles to people's faces," piped in Ryan.

Perhaps it was their older brother Eric, a student at Cardinal O'Hara and active in the theater productions there, who inspired them to go on stage or perhaps it's just in their blood.

Other than singing in the church choir and practicing for an upcoming musical, the boys don't really have a formal voice coach and actually look forward to practices despite their busy schedules.

"I never get tired of practicing because it keeps you going," said Ryan. "I just look out in the audience and see people smiling and that makes me want to do my best."

Jacob added, "I don't get tired of it. We all do sports and sometimes it really gets chaotic with sports and school and acting, but I never get tired of acting because it's one of the things I love doing. It just keeps you busy throughout the day."

Besides seeing them on stage, you can catch the Jewell brothers paying baseball, basketball, or soccer (Jacob also would like to try out for hockey and lacrosse next year). In addition, the brothers are big on giving back to the community. The brothers have helped out at St. Pius X's summer camps.

"We just think it's good to give back to the school for all that they've done for us–coaches for coaching us and teachers...so we want to help them with stuff too," said Jacob.

So, what keeps them going with such a busy schedule? "Sugar," candidly said Jacob.

Though they both admit they get nervous before shows or a big number, the Jewell brothers seem to be comfortable on stage and would like to continue to pursue singing in some form in the future.

"I'll get nervous before the show and if I have a big song, but when the curtains open and I hear the applause and see people laughing it just encourages me," said Ryan. "I haven't really thought about it yet [making singing into a career someday] but people say that I'm good at it...maybe become a successful singer."

For Jacob, he's more certain of what he'd like to do in the future.

"I just like to act in all different kinds of musicals–ones that I haven't been in before, but I really want to be on Broadway someday," said Jacob. "I don't get tired of it. We all just love acting and performing together so much."

Editor's note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.