The Music Center invites Southern California high school students in the performing and visual arts to apply to The Music Center’s Spotlight program. Now in its 27th year, Spotlight is one of the nation’s premier arts education and scholarship programs for teens, providing arts training by professional artists and awarding over $100,000 in scholarships.
The Music Center’s Spotlight program is free and open to all students who attend high school in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Students of all talent levels are encouraged to apply, and there are no fees to participate. Every student who applies to Spotlight will have the opportunity to learn through professional feedback and gain valuable knowledge to improve their art and audition skills. Applications are now available online at musiccenter.org/spotlight. Applications in the new Acting Category must be received by Oct. 1, 2014, and all other categories by Oct. 20, 2014.
The Music Center’s Spotlight program has launched numerous professional careers, including pop music sensation Adam Lambert, American Ballet Theatre’s Misty Copeland, Broadway’s Erin Mackey and classical musician Liang Wang, principal oboist with the New York Philharmonic. Many alumni return to the program to participate as judges and class instructors.
Spotlight was developed to offer distinctive learning opportunities to Southern California students at every stage of artistic development. According to Jeri Gaile, director of The Music Center’s Spotlight program, “Spotlight is a safe haven for participants to learn how to audition and gain confidence and self‐esteem, knowing they are better prepared for the next step in their artistic pursuits. We provide a nurturing environment where young artists can come and make mistakes, learn about themselves and have fun while doing it.” Much more than a competition, Spotlight is about personal and artistic growth, while exploring new possibilities in the arts.
All students enrolled in the program work with professionals to develop audition skills and knowledge in their performance and visual arts disciplines. Performing Arts categories are acting, ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non‐classical voice, classical instrumental and jazz instrumental. Students who are selected by professional judges to advance as semifinalists participate in master classes, compete to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall and receive cash scholarships. Grand Prize Finalists in each category receive $5,000 scholarships. Honorable Mentions receive $1,000 scholarships, Semifinalists receive $300 scholarships and selected participants receive $100 scholarships.
The Spotlight Academy is Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Music Center. Come to a free day of performing arts classes and clinics at the Music Center. No pressure, casual atmosphere. Parents, teachers and friends are all invited. Check in: 9:30 a.m., classes: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., lunch break: 1 to 2 p.m. You must RSVP at SPOTLIGHT@MUSICCENTER.ORG for a spot and free parking.
For more information about The Music Center Spotlight program, visit musiccenter.org/spotlight or join the conversation on facebook.com/spotlightawards.