Applications Now Accepted for 'The Music Center's Spotlight' Performing Arts Competition
The application deadline is Monday, October 13, 2025.
The Music Center, Los Angeles’ performing arts center, is inviting all Southern California high school students interested in the performing arts to apply for The Music Center’s 38th Annual Spotlight program, a longstanding, free, nationally acclaimed competition that provides more than $100,000 in performing arts scholarships and artistic development for students each year.
Applicants will gain artistic development through auditions, feedback, performance opportunities as well as mastery classes taught by professional artists and arts administrators. Through a supportive environment, students can develop important life skills, including self-esteem, preparation and perseverance. As the West Coast’s leading performing arts destination, The Music Center has provided students with over $3 million in scholarships to date. Applying for The Music Center’s Spotlight is free; students of all skill levels are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Monday, October 13, 2025.
The Music Center’s Spotlight is part of the performing arts organization’s commitment to help all students gain outstanding arts learning experiences in their schools and communities. It is designed to help students explore their professional goals and increase their confidence through the audition process. Spotlight alumni are performing with the world’s best dance companies, top orchestras and leading jazz clubs; singing in the leading opera houses; and starring on Broadway. They are also major executives working behind-the-scenes in arts schools, non-profit institutions and businesses.
The Music Center’s Spotlight process is comprised of:
First Round Auditions: Students submit an online video audition in one or more of the following categories: Acting, Ballet, Dance, Classical Instrumental, Contemporary Instrumental, Classical Voice and Non-Classical Voice. New this year: the Acting and Non-Classical Voice categories each will be capped at 300 applicants. All who apply will receive personalized written feedback from distinguished panels of judges. Spotlight merit, semifinalists and honorable mentions from the previous year will bypass online First Round Auditions and advance automatically to live Second Round Auditions (an application is still required).
Second Round Auditions: Students who advance to this round will audition live before distinguished panels of judges and receive personalized feedback from a panel of industry experts.
Semifinal – Mastery Classes/Auditions: Spotlight judges will invite 10 semifinalists in each category to participate in mastery classes to gain feedback prior to their semifinal auditions. Following the semifinal auditions, The Music Center will announce two Grand Prize finalists and an honorable mention in each category. All participating students are invited to observe select mastery classes.
Grand Finale: Spotlight will conclude with a live Grand Finale evening performance featuring the 14 Grand Prize finalists at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre on Saturday, May 16, 2026. More details to be announced!
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Good Night, Oscar North Coast Repertory (9/16-10/11) |
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Much Ado About Nothing McCadden Place Theatre (8/07-8/16) |
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6 Out of 10 Theatre 68 (8/20-8/20) |
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Catch Me If You Can Colony Theatre (9/17-10/18) |
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Emily Skinner: In Concert Feinstein's at the Nikko (8/14-8/15) |
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Gershwin and the Golden Age Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) (10/11-10/11) |
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John Lloyd Young Feinstein's at the Nikko (8/21-8/22) |
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Love, Loss and What I Wore Sawyer's Playhouse (8/08-8/30) |
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Our Man in Santiago by Mark Wilding Odyssey Theatre Ensemble (9/10-9/20) |
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CLOWNISH: Not artificial. Or intelligent. Theatre Rhinoceros (9/17-10/04) |