Local High School Students Named as Semifinalists in 27th Annual The Music Center Presents Spotlight Program

The Music Center named 108 of some of Southern California's most talented high school students as semifinalists* in the 27th annual The Music Center Presents Spotlight program, a free nationally-acclaimed scholarship and arts training program for teens. An important part of The Music Center's fundamental support for arts education, Spotlight provides opportunities for Southern California high school students to acquire the skills they need to pursue their artistic dreams in the performing arts.

Semifinalists were named in each of seven categories, including acting, ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental.

"On the heels of our 50th Anniversary, The Music Center has re-committed itself to helping all students receive outstanding arts learning experiences in their schools and in the community, and our Spotlight program is an important part of those efforts," said Howard Sherman, interim president & CEO, The Music Center. "More than 1,600 participants auditioned this year, with more than 40,000 students participating in Spotlight since its original inception in 1988," he added.

"Our diverse group of semifinalists impressed the judges with their talent, dedication and willingness to take constructive criticism and evolve both as artists and as human beings," said Jeri Gaile, director, The Music Center's Spotlight program. "That's exactly the point of Spotlight, to provide opportunities to young artists not only for artistic development but also for the enhancement of skills, such as confidence and self-esteem, that are important to their future, whether they choose to work in or outside of a creative industry," she explained.

Semifinalists receive a rare opportunity to attend special master classes with highly regarded artists, who share their expertise on performance technique, training and professional life. Students have the opportunity to present their work while gaining feedback on their performance, offering them a rich learning experience. Each semifinalist will audition again before a new panel of judges, who will then select the top two finalist performers in each category for a total of 14 Grand Prize Finalists. These students will perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall at The Music Center in the Spotlight Grand Finale Performance on March 31, 2015.

*111 total semifinalist positions

The Music Center's Spotlight program awards more than 100,000 in cash scholarships annually. Both Grand Prize Finalists in each category receive $5,000 scholarships, with one Honorable Mention in each category receiving $1,000. Semifinalists each receive $300. This year, The Music Center is introducing the Spotlight Promise Award, which celebrates five students in each preliminary category who inspire the judges by their commitment and dedication to their art form. Spotlight Promise Award recipients each receive $100.

Numerous Spotlight participants have gone on to successful professional careers. Fifteen finalists are Presidential Scholars, and many more have joined or performed with professional companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, among others. They include Misty Copeland, who made history as the first African American female in two decades to be appointed soloist at American Ballet Theatre; Adam Lambert and Josh Groban, pop recording artists; Eric Mackey, currently starring in Lady be Good with Tommy Tune, soon to be at New York City Center; Yao Guan Zhai, associate principal clarinet of the Toronto Symphony; Gerald Clayton, Grammy Award winning jazz recording artist; and many others.

Fredric M. Roberts is founding chairman of The Music Center Spotlight Awards, and Walter Grauman is creator/executive producer.

Tickets to the March 31, 2015 Spotlight Grand Finale Performance will be available for $10 each starting on February 16. Visit http://www.musiccenter.org/ to purchase tickets.

For more information about The Music Center's Spotlight program, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight or join the conversation on facebook.com/spotlightawards.

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